TODAY'S EVENTS IN SPORTS HISTORY 2025

APRIL 6
17th British Open

1877 17th British Open Men's Golf, Musselburgh Links: Jamie Anderson wins his first of 3 consecutive Championships; beats fellow Scot Bob Pringle by 2 shots


GolferJamie Anderson

• 1896 First modern Summer Olympic Games open in Athens, Greece; American athlete James Connolly becomes the first modern Olympic champion when he wins the triple jump (then 2 hops and a jump); later places 3rd in long jump and 2nd in high jump

Jeffries vs Finnegan
1900 James J. Jeffries KOs Jack Finnegan in 1 for heavyweight boxing title


Boxer and World Heavyweight ChampionJames J. Jeffries

• 1926 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Maroons beat Victoria Cougars (WHL), 2-0 for a 3-1 series victory
• 1935 H Levitt sinks 499 basketball free throws, misses & sinks 371 more

3rd Augusta National
1936 3rd Augusta National Invitation Tournament (Masters) Golf: Horton Smith wins his second Masters, 1 stroke ahead of runner-up Harry Cooper, with defending champion Gene Sarazen 3rd


GolferGene Sarazen
8th US Masters
1941 8th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Craig Wood wins his first major title, 3 strokes ahead of runner-up Byron Nelson; Masters' first wire-to-wire champion


GolferByron Nelson

GolferCraig Wood

• 1947 11th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jimmy Demaret wins his 2nd Masters by 2 strokes over Byron Nelson and amateur Frank Stranahan

US Masters Golf
1952 16th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Sam Snead wins his second green jacket by 4 strokes over Jack Burke Jr


GolferSam Snead

• 1954 Montreal Canadiens score 3 goals in 56 sec in playoff game against Det
• 1957 Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis buys the Hellenic National Airlines (TAE) and founds Olympic Airlines.

US Masters Golf
1958 22nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Arnold Palmer wins the first of his 4 Masters titles, 1 stroke ahead of Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins; first of his 7 major titles


GolferArnold Palmer
Sports History
1973 Roberto Clemente Day, Pittsburgh Pirates retire his #21


Baseball PlayerRoberto Clemente

• 1973 Yankee Ron Blomberg becomes 1st designated hitter, he walks
• 1974 Yankees 1st home game at Shea Stadium, while Yankee Stadium is renovated; beat Cleveland Indians 6-1
• 1977 Kingdome opens, Seattle Mariners 1st game, loses to Angels 7-0

Sports History
1979 Baltimore manager Earl Weaver wins his 1,000th game as a skipper, a 5-3 Orioles victory over the Chicago White Sox


MLB ManagerEarl Weaver
NHL Record
1980 Gordie Howe completes a record 26th NHL season


Ice Hockey LegendGordie Howe

• 1982 Largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Minnesota 52,279

Golf Major
1986 Nabisco Dinah Shore Women's Golf, Mission Hills CC: Pat Bradley wins the 4th of her 6 major titles, 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Val Skinner


LPGA GolferPat Bradley

• 1986 Soccer ball juggled non-stop for 14:14 hrs
• 1987 Los Angeles Dodger's GM Al Campanis appears on TV program ABC News: Nightline saying Blacks may not be equipped to be in baseball management, sparking a racial controversy

Sports History
1987 Middleweight World Boxing Championship bout: Sugar Ray Leonard upsets Marvelous Marvin Hagler at Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada


BoxerSugar Ray Leonard

• 1988 NJ Devils' 1st playoff game; lose to NY Islanders 4-3 (OT) in 1st round
• 1991 145th Grand National: In Canadian distillery Seagram's final year of race sponsorship, New Zealand-bred chestnut gelding Seagram wins, ridden by Nigel Hawke

Sports History
1991 Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona suspended for 15 months by Italian League for testing positive for cocaine use


Football LegendDiego Maradona

• 1992 1st game at Camden Field, Baltimore, Maryland - Orioles beat Cleveland Indians 2-0
• 1992 54th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Duke beats Michigan, 71-51; back-to-back titles for Blue Devils and coach Mike Krzyzewski
• 1993 Florida Marlins lose their first-ever game, 4-2, to the LA Dodgers
• 1996 American baseball player Albert Belle shows off his arm by hitting Sports Illustrated photographer Tony Tomsic in the hand prior to a game
• 1997 The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, GC at Desert Mountain: Gil Morgan wins first of 3 Champions Tour majors by 6 strokes from Isao Aoki
• 2002 155th Grand National: 8-year-old 20/1 shot Bindaree, ridden by Jim Culloty and trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies wins by 1¾ lengths from What's Up Boys
• 2002 France beats Ireland 44-5 at Stade de France, Saint Denis to complete a Grand Slam and win the Six Nations Rugby Championship; their 13th title

Sports History
2004 23rd NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Tennessee, 70-61; UConn's Diana Taurasi is named Most Outstanding Player for the 2nd straight year


Basketball PlayerDiana Taurasi
Golf Major
2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship Women's Golf, Mission Hills CC: top-ranked Lorena Ochoa of Mexico shoots a bogey-free final round 67 to win by 5 strokes ahead of Suzann Pettersen and Annika Sörenstam


GolferAnnika Sörenstam

GolferSuzann Pettersen

GolferLorena Ochoa

• 2009 71st NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: North Carolina beats Michigan State, 89-72; Tar Heels' 5th national title; Ty Lawson 21 points
• 2010 29th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Stanford, 53-47; UConn forward Maya Moore scores 23 points
• 2013 166th Grand National: Ryan Mania wins aboard 66/1 Auroras Encore for trainer Sue Smith

Sports History
2013 Bayern Munich win their 23rd German Bundesliga title with 6 games to spare


Football StarThomas Müller
Cricket History
2014 ICC Men's Cricket T20 World Cup, Mirpur: Sri Lanka wins their first title with 6 wicket victory over India with 13 balls remaining; Player of the Series: Indian batsman Virat Kohli (319 runs)


CricketerVirat Kohli

• 2014 ICC Women's Cricket T20 World Cup, Dhaka: captain Meg Lanning's 44 from 30 balls leads Australia to 106/4; beat England 105/8 to win by 6 wickets (with 29 balls remaining); 3rd consecutive T20 WC

Golf Major
2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship Women's Golf, Mission Hills CC: 19-year-old Lexi Thompson shoots a bogey-free final round 68 to win her first major title, 3 strokes ahead of Michelle Wie


GolferMichelle Wie

• 2015 77th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Duke beats Wisconsin, 68-63; Blue Devils' point guard Tyus Jones, 23 points
• 2019 Tampa Bay Lightning beats Boston Bruins, 6-3 in the season finale for their 62nd regular season win, tying the NHL record held by Detroit Red Wings (1995-96); 128 points, 4th in NHL history
• 2020 149th British Open Men's Golf Championship is cancelled for the first time since WWII due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Royal St George's GC to host event in 2021

 

APRIL 7

• 1896 American athlete Robert Garrett wins the throwing double at the Athens Olympics by taking out the shot putt (11.22m); wins the discus the previous day

First Olympic 1500m

1896 Australian athlete Edwin Flack wins gold in the first Olympic 1500m final at inaugural modern Games in Athens; goes on to win 800m two days later


Olympic RunnerTeddy Flack

• 1928 44-year old NY Rangers GM Lester Patrick replaces his injured goaltender in a Stanley Cup game and beats Montreal Maroons, 2-1 in OT; Rangers go on to win series, 3-2

7th US Masters
1940 7th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jimmy Demaret wins the first of his 3 Masters titles, 4 strokes ahead of runner-up Lloyd Mangrum


GolferJimmy Demaret

• 1943 NFL adopts free substitution rule; helmets made mandatory and 10-game schedule for all teams approved

10th US Masters
1946 10th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: American Herman Keiser wins his only major title, 1 stroke ahead of tour money-leader Ben Hogan; first Masters in 4 years because of World War II


GolferBen Hogan

• 1951 105th Grand National: John Bullock wins aboard 40/1 shot Nickel Coin; of 36 runners, only 3 complete the course
• 1951 15th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Hogan wins the first of his 2 Masters titles, 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Skee Riegel
• 1956 10th NBA Championship: Despite 30 points from Pistons forward George Yardley, Philadelphia Warriors beat Fort Wayne, 99-88; Warriors wrap up series, 4-1

US Masters Golf
1957 21st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Doug Ford wins his only Masters, 3 strokes ahead of 3-time champion Sam Snead


GolferSam Snead

• 1958 Dodgers erect 42-foot screen in left field at LA Coliseum to cut down on home runs, since it is only 250 feet down the line
• 1962 Indian cricketer Polly Umrigar slams 172 not out vs West Indies at Port-of-Spain in 248 minutes

US Masters Golf
1963 27th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: 23-year-old Jack Nicklaus wins the first of his record 6 Green Jackets with a 3-foot par putt on the final hole to finish 1 stroke ahead of Tony Lema


GolferJack Nicklaus

• 1963 Public stock offering of 115,000 shares in Milwaukee Braves withdrawn after only 13,000 shares are sold to 1,600 new investors
• 1969 Dodgers' Bill Singer is credited with 1st official save, against Reds

Sports History
1969 Ted Williams begins managing Washington Senators, they lose to Yanks 8-4


Baseball PlayerTed Williams

• 1970 MLB Milwaukee Brewers (former Seattle Pilots) 1st game, lose to Angels 12-0

Sports History
1971 Dismissal of Curt Flood's free agency suit against baseball is upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit [1]


Baseball PlayerCurt Flood

• 1973 Doug Walters' best Test Cricket bowling, 5-66 v WI Georgetown
• 1977 MLB Toronto Blue Jays 1st game, they beat Chicago 9-5

Sports History
1978 US Court of Appeals upholds Commissioner Bowie Kuhn's voiding of attempted player sales by A's owner Charlie Finley in June 1976


MLB CommissionerBowie Kuhn
Sports History
1979 Houston Astro Ken Forsch no-hits Atlanta Braves, 6-0, becoming with his brother Bob Forsch the only MLB siblings to accomplish the feat


Baseball PitcherBob Forsch
Sports History
1979 NHL New York Islanders Mike Bossy scores 4 goals on his first 4 shots in 9-2 win over visiting Philadelphia Flyers


Ice Hockey GreatMike Bossy
Sports History
1984 Detroit Tiger Jack Morris no-hits Chicago White Sox, 4-0


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherJack Morris

• 1985 Nabisco Dinah Shore Women's Golf, Mission Hills CC: Alice Miller shoots a final round 67 (−5) to win her only major title, 3 strokes ahead of Jan Stephenson of Australia
• 1989 NY Supreme Court takes America's Cup away from SD Yacht Club for using a catamaran against NZ. Appeals court eventually overrules
• 1990 144th Grand National: Marcus Armytage aboard 16/1 bet Mr Frisk wins in race record 8m 47.8s; 2 equine fatalities during the race
• 1990 NY Rangers beat NY Islanders 5-2, Rangers lead 2-0 in preliminary
• 1991 Tradition Senior Men's Golf, GC at Desert Mountain: Jack Nicklaus wins his second of 4 event titles by 1 stroke from Jim Colbert, Jim Dent & Phil Rodgers
• 1994 NY Yankees beat Texas Rangers 18-6
• 1995 Baseball exhibition season begins late due to strike
• 1996 Pakistan beats Sri Lanka to win Cricket's Singer Cup in Singapore

Fastest ODI 50
1996 Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya hits the fastest ODI fifty off 17 balls vs Pakistan in Singapore


CricketerSanath Jayasuriya

• 1996 The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, GC at Desert Mountain: Defending champion Jack Nicklaus wins his 4th event title by 3 strokes from Hale Irwin
• 1997 150th Grand National: Tony Dobbin aboard New Zealand bred Lord Gyllene wins at 14/1 by 25 lengths; race postponed 2 days because of IRA bomb threat
• 2000 1st regular season MLB game at Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park) in Houston, Texas; visiting Philadelphia Phillies beat Astros 4-1, Phillies third baseman Scott Rolen hits first homer at new park

Cricket History
2000 South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje is charged by Delhi police with fixing One Day International matches against India


CricketerHansie Cronje

• 2001 154th Grand National: Richard Guest wins aboard Red Marauder; trainer Martin Pipe saddles 10 of 40-strong field, Blowing Wind best at 3rd place
• 2003 65th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Syracuse beats Kansas, 81-78; Orangemen win first title; Carmelo Anthony named tournament Most Outstanding Player
• 2008 70th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kansas beats Memphis, 75-68; first time since seeding began, all 4 top seeds advance to the Final Four
• 2009 28th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Louisville, 76-54; Huskies' 6th national title with center Tina Charles MOP

Golf Major
2013 Kraft Nabisco Championship Women's Golf, Mission Hills CC: Inbee Park wins her 2nd major title, 4 strokes ahead of fellow South Korean So Yeon Ryu; first of Park's 3 straight major victories in 2013


GolferInbee Park

• 2013 Sweden wins the 2013 World Men's Curling Championship defeating Canada
• 2014 76th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Kentucky, 60-54; 2nd time a school has won both men's & women's Div I national titles in same year
• 2015 34th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Notre Dame, 63-53; Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis & Moriah Jefferson, 15 points for Huskies
• 2018 Vegas Golden Knights suffer a 7-1 end of regular season defeat at Calgary but finish with an NHL expansion team record 51 victories; previous record 33 by Anaheim Ducks & Florida Panthers 1993-94
• 2019 38th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Baylor beats Notre Dame, 82-81; Lady Bears' point guard Chloe Jackson, 26 points
• 2019 ANA Inspiration Women's Golf, Mission Hills CC: Ko Jin-young wins her first major title by 3 strokes over fellow South Korean Lee Mi-hyang

NBA Record
2019 Retiring NBA legends Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) and Dwyane Wade (Miami) play their final home games, both victories; Magic Johnson sensationally quits as LA Lakers president of basketball operations; Houston Rockets convert NBA record 27 three-point field goals in 149-113 win over Phoenix


NBA LegendMagic Johnson

Basketball PlayerDwyane Wade

• 2022 MLB Cleveland Guardians lose in first game under their new name, 3-1 to the Royals in Kansas City

 

APRIL 8

2nd Augusta National

1935 2nd Augusta National Invitation Tournament (Masters) Golf: Gene Sarazen wins Monday playoff with Craig Wood by 5 strokes


GolferGene Sarazen

GolferCraig Wood
Louis vs Musto
1941 In his 4th title defense in 9 weeks Joe Louis beats Tony Musto by TKO in the 9th round at the Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri to retain NYSAC heavyweight boxing crown


Boxer and World Heavyweight ChampionJoe Louis

• 1943 1943 NFL Draft: Frank Sinkwich from University of Georgia first pick by Detroit Lions
• 1943 Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Detroit Red Wings beat Boston Bruins, 2-0 for a 4-0 series sweep and their 3rd SC Championship
• 1945 1945 NFL Draft: Charley Trippi from University of Georgia first pick by Chicago Cardinals
• 1956 20th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jack Burke Jr. wins his first major title, 1 stroke ahead of amateur Ken Venturi; final Masters played without a 36-hole cut

Sports History
1963 Detroit Tigers claim young pitcher Denny McLain on waivers from the Chicago White Sox; McLain goes on the win Cy Young Award 1968, 69 and AL MVP 1968


Baseball PitcherDenny McLain
Sports History
1966 American Football League votes in 36-year-old Al Davis as commissioner after Joe Foss resigns; appointment lasts 3 months when AFL merges with NFL


American Football Coach and ExecutiveAl Davis

• 1967 121st Grand National: John Buckingham aboard rank 100/1 outsider Foinavon avoids famous carnage to win by 15 lengths from favourite Honey End

Sports History
1968 Major League Baseball decides to postpone Opening Day because of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr


Civil Rights ActivistMartin Luther King Jr.

• 1969 Expansion teams Royals, Expos, Padres & Pilots win their 1st games
• 1969 First Major League Baseball game featuring a Canadian team; Montréal Expos beats NY Mets, 11-10 at Shea Stadium; KC Royals, SD Padres and Seattle Pilots also win on debut
• 1972 126th Grand National: Graham Thorner aboard 14/1 bet Well To Do wins from 1970 winner Gay Trip; Black Secret & General Symons dead heat for 3rd
• 1972 Alvin Kallicharran scores 100* in his 1st Test Cricket innings v NZ

Sports History
1974 Hammerin' Hank Aaron hits his 715th home run off LA Dodger Al Downing in Atlanta, breaking Babe Ruth's record


Baseball PlayerHank Aaron
Sports History
1975 Frank Robinson debuts as 1st African American baseball manager (Cleveland Indians beat New York Yankees, 5-3)


Baseball Outfielder and ManagerFrank Robinson

• 1976 1976 NFL Draft: Lee Roy Selmon from University of Oklahoma first pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 1979 People's Republic of China joins International Olympic Committee
• 1980 Islander Potvin's 2 shorthanded goals tie NHL record vs Kings & set NHL rec of 2 shorthanded playoff goals in 1 period
• 1981 Islanders scored 9 goals against Toronto in playoffs
• 1982 Tracy Caulkins wins her 36th US swimming title aged 19

Golf Major
1984 Nabisco Dinah Shore Women's Golf, Mission Hills CC: Juli Inkster wins the first of her 7 major titles in a sudden-death playoff with Pat Bradley, with a par on the 1st extra hole


LPGA GolferPat Bradley

• 1989 143rd Grand National: Irish 12-year-old Little Polveir, ridden by jockey Jimmy Frost wins by 7 lengths from West Tip
• 1989 California Angels pitcher Jim Abbott, born without his right hand, makes MLB debut, lasting only 4 2/3 innings

US Masters Golf
1990 54th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Nick Faldo of England goes back-to-back with a par on the 2nd sudden-death playoff hole with Raymond Floyd


Golfer and Six-Time Major Championship WinnerNick Faldo

Golfer and Four-Time Major Championship WinnerRay Floyd
Sports History
1991 Jockey Bill Shoemaker paralyzed in a car accident


Racing Hall of Fame JockeyBill Shoemaker

• 1991 Major league umpires & baseball reach a 4-year agreement
• 1991 Oakland A's stadium becomes 1st outdoor arena in USA to ban smoking
• 1993 Indians' Carlos Baerga is 1st to switch hit HRs in same inn (vs Yanks)
• 1994 Atlanta Brave Kent Mercker no-hits Dodgers, 6-0

Sports History
1994 MLB outfielder Darryl Strawberry enters Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California for substance abuse rehabilitation


Baseball PlayerDarryl Strawberry

• 1995 148th Grand National: Irish rider Jason Titley wins aboard 40/1 outsider Royal Athlete; trainer Jenny Pitman's second GN victory
• 1995 American Bruce Seldon defeats by RTD over Tony Tucker in 7 rounds to win vacated WBA boxing title

Boxing Title Fight
1995 Oliver McCall beats Larry Holmes in 12 for heavyweight boxing title


BoxerLarry Holmes

• 2000 153rd Grand National: Irish 10/1 shot Papillon, ridden by jockey Ruby Walsh and trained by his father Ted Walsh wins by 1¼ lengths from Mely Moss

US Masters Golf
2001 65th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his 2nd Masters and 6th major title, 2 strokes ahead of David Duval


GolferTiger Woods

GolferDavid Duval
Sports History
2003 22nd NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Tennessee, 73-68; UConn guard Diana Taurasi is named Most Outstanding Player


Basketball PlayerDiana Taurasi

• 2006 159th Grand National: 11–1 Irish shot Numbersixvalverde, ridden by Niall Madden wins by 6 lengths from defending champion Hedgehunter
• 2007 71st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Zach Johnson wins his first major title, 2 strokes ahead of Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and Tiger Woods
• 2008 27th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Tennessee beats Stanford, 64-48; Volunteers' back-to-back titles; coach Pat Summitt, 8 national championships

US Masters Golf
2012 76th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Bubba Watson wins on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff with South African Louis Oosthuizen


GolferLouis Oosthuizen

• 2013 75th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Louisville beats Michigan, 82-76; Cardinals' forward Luke Hancock hits 22 points
• 2014 33rd NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Notre Dame, 79-58; 2nd time a school has won both men's & women's Div I national titles in same year

Sports History
2014 Mike Babcock wins his 414th career game as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the winningest coach in Red Wings history (passing Jack Adams)


NHL CoachMike Babcock

• 2017 170th Grand National: Derek Fox wins aboard 14/1 One For Arthur; second ever Scottish-trained winner of the event
• 2018 82nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Patrick Reed wins his first major title, 1 stroke ahead of fellow American Rickie Fowler
• 2019 81st NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Virginia beats Texas Tech, 85-77 OT; Cavaliers first ever National title; forward De'Andre Hunter, 27 points

 

APRIL 9

• 1880 British Open Men's Golf, Musselburgh Links: Scotsman Bob Ferguson wins first of 3 straight titles; beats Peter Paxton by 5 strokes

Flack Wins the Double

1896 Australian athlete Edwin Flack claims the middle distance double at the Athens Olympics winning the 800m final in 2:11.0; his 2nd victory of the Games after success in the 1500m


Olympic RunnerTeddy Flack

• 1896 Greek shooter Pantelis Karasevdas scores a perfect 40 hits to win the military rifle event at the Athens Olympics; Greek 1-2-3 with Pavlos Pavlidis and Nicolaos Trikupis taking out the minor placings
• 1912 1st exhibition baseball game at Fenway Park (Red Sox vs Harvard)
• 1913 Brooklyn Superbas' (later Dodgers) Ebbets Field opens; visiting Philadelphia Phillies win, 1-0

Bellyache Heard Round the World
1925 At the height of his fame Babe Ruth rushed to hospital with a mysterious condition labelled “the bellyache heard round the world". Ruth reported dead by some newspapers. [1]


Baseball LegendBabe Ruth

• 1928 Top-Oss soccer team forms in Oss

Chicago Wins Game Three
1931 Stanley Cup Final Game Three: Chicago Black Hawks defeat Montreal Canadiens 3-2 (Canadians eventually win in best of five series)


NHL GoalieGeorge Hainsworth

• 1932 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs beat New York Rangers, 6-4 for 3-0 series sweep; Toronto's first SC as the Maple Leafs
• 1935 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Maroons beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1 for 3-0 series sweep; Maroons last defunct team to win the Cup
• 1941 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Dorothy Kirby wins comfortably by 16 strokes ahead of Helen Sigel
• 1941 PGA establishes Golf Hall of Fame
• 1945 NFL requires players to wear long stockings
• 1946 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins, 6-3 for a 4-1 series victory

Leo Durocher Suspended
1947 Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler suspends Brooklyn Dodger Leo Durocher for 1 year for "association with known gamblers"


Baseball Player and ManagerLeo Durocher
14th US Masters
1950 14th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jimmy Demaret becomes the first 3-time Masters champion by 2 strokes ahead of Australian Jim Ferrier


GolferJimmy Demaret

• 1959 13th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics sweep Minneapolis Lakers in 4 games, first of Boston Celtics' record 8 straight titles
• 1959 Baltimore Orioles pull their 2nd triple play (3-6-3 vs Washington Senators)

NBA Record
1959 Bill Sharman hits a NBA record 56 consecutive foul shot


NBA GuardBill Sharman

• 1960 14th NBA Championship: Bost Celtics beat St Louis Hawks, 4 games to 3

US Masters Golf
1962 26th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Arnold Palmer wins the 3rd of his 4 Masters titles in an 18 hole Monday playoff with Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald; tournament's first 3-way playoff


GolferArnold Palmer

GolferGary Player
Baseball Record
1965 1st baseball game at Houston Astrodome, Astros beat NY Yankees 2-1 in exhibition as Mickey Mantle hits MLB's 1st indoor homerun; US President Lyndon Johnson and wife Lady Bird attend


Baseball LegendMickey Mantle

• 1966 Anaheim Stadium for California Angels opens
• 1967 31st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Gay Brewer wins his only major title by 1 stroke over runner-up Bobby Nichols
• 1968 Minn's Wayne Connelly is 1st to score on a Stanley Cup penalty shot
• 1969 Chic Cub Billy Williams hits 4 consecutive doubles beat Phillies 11-3

US Masters Golf
1972 36th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jack Nicklaus leads wire-to-wire to win the 4th of his 6 Masters titles, 3 strokes ahead of Bruce Crampton, Tom Weiskopf and Bobby Mitchell


GolferJack Nicklaus

GolferBruce Crampton

• 1972 New Zealand cricket opening batsmen Glenn Turner (259) & Terry Jarvis (187) make 387 partnership in 4th Test v WI in Georgetown, Guyana
• 1973 37th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Due to weather delays final round is played on Monday with Tommy Aaron winning his only major title, 1 stroke ahead of J. C. Snead

Sports History
1974 San Diego Padres owner Ray Kroc addresses fans, "Ladies and gentlemen, I suffer with you... I've never seen such stupid ball playing in my life!"


McDonald's EntrepreneurRay Kroc
US Masters Golf
1978 42nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: 42-year-old Gary Player shoots a record-tying final round 64 (−8) to win by 1 stroke from Rod Funseth, Tom Watson and Hubert Green


GolferGary Player

GolferTom Watson

• 1978 Brewers sweep Orioles 11-3, 16-3, & 13-5 (each with a grand slam)

Sports History
1978 In separate NBA games Denver's David Thompson scores 73 points & San Antonio's George Gervin scores 63 points (33 in 1 quarter)


NBA GuardGeorge Gervin

• 1980 Los Angeles Kings tie NHL record with two shorthanded playoff goals (vs NY Islanders)

Sports History
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela makes MLB debut as opening day starter due to pitching staff injuries, beats Astros 2-0; goes on to win both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherFernando Valenzuela

• 1982 LA Lakers block 21 Denver shots setting NBA regulation game record
• 1983 137th Grand National: Ben de Haan wins aboard 13/1 bet Corbiere; Jenny Pittman first female GN winning trainer

Sports History
1985 White Sox pitcher Tom Seaver starts a record 15th opening day game


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherTom Seaver
Stanley Cup
1987 For 3rd time, Wayne Gretzky, scores 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists) in a Stanley Cup game and passes Jean Béliveau as all time playoff scoring champ


Ice Hockey GreatWayne Gretzky

• 1988 142nd Grand National: Irish jockey Brendan Powell wins aboard 10/1 shot Rhyme 'n' Reason by 4 lengths from Durham Edition
• 1988 NHL New Jersey Devils win 3-0 over New York Islanders; Devils lead 2-1 in playoff 1st round

US Masters Golf
1989 53rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Englishman Nick Faldo wins the first of his 3 Masters titles after a final round 65 (−7) and a birdie on the 2nd hole of a sudden-death playoff with Scott Hoch


Golfer and Six-Time Major Championship WinnerNick Faldo
Sports History
1989 Mike Tyson strikes a parking attendant when asked to move his car


Heavyweight Boxing ChampionMike Tyson
Baseball Record
1989 MLB New York Yankees outfielder Rickey Henderson steals his 800th career base in 4-3 loss to Cleveland Indians


MLB OutfielderRickey Henderson
Contract of Interest
1990 Don Mattingly signs a $19.7 million 5-year contract extension with New York Yankees


Baseball Player and ManagerDon Mattingly

• 1990 NY Islanders beat NY Rangers 4-3 in double overtime-Rangers lead 2-1
• 1992 Florida drops rape charges against NY Mets Gooden, Boston & Coleman
• 1992 Record 18 golfers shoot in 60s in Masters round 1 (old record 12)
• 1993 Colorado Rockies 1st home game & 1st victory, 11-4 over Mont Expos
• 1994 147th Grand National: Jockey Richard Dunwoody wins his second GN aboard Irish 16/1 shot Miinnehoma by 1¼ lengths from Just So

US Masters Golf
1995 59th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Crenshaw wins his 2nd Masters title, 1 stroke ahead of runner-up Davis Love III

• 1997 Cleveland Indians pitcher Jose Mesa is acquitted of rape
• 1997 Major League Soccer announces Miami & Chicago expansion
• 1997 NFL announces it will give $3M to CFL & possible "World Classic Bowl"

US Masters Golf
2000 64th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Fijian Vijay Singh wins by 3 strokes from Ernie Els of South Africa

• 2005 158th Grand National: 9-year-old 7/1 favourite Hedgehunter, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins, win by 14 lengths from 40/1 shot Royal Auclair

US Masters Golf
2006 70th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Phil Mickelson wins his 2nd green jacket by 2 shots from South African Tim Clark

• 2011 164th Grand National: Jason Maguire wins aboard Irish 14/1 shot Ballabriggs; first GN win for trainer Donald McCain Jr., son of 4-time winning trainer Ginger McCain
• 2013 32nd NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Louisville, 93-60; Huskies' 8th National title

Sports History
2014 Joel Embiid declares for the 2014 NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility

2016 169th Grand National: David Mullins victorious aboard 33/1 Rule The World; wins by 6 lengths from race favourite The Last Samuri
US Masters Golf
2017 81st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Spaniard Sergio García beats Justin Rose of England in a sudden-death playoff, after they completed 72 holes at -9; Garcia's 1st major title in his 74th attempt
2021 San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove no-hits the Texas Rangers, 3-0 at Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX

• 2022 Joel Embiid is named the NBA scoring champion, averaging 30.6 points per game
• 2023 87th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jon Rahm becomes 4th Spaniard to win the tournament; finishes on -12 to beat Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka by 4 strokes
• 2023 Joel Embiid is named the NBA scoring champion for the second straight season, averaging 33.1 points per game

Sports History
2023 Kawhi Leonard leads the Los Angeles Clippers to a win over the Phoenix Suns, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket

 

APRIL 10

• 1874 British Open Men's Golf, Musselburgh Links: Mungo Park wins first title by 2 strokes from Tom Morris Jr
• 1887 Soccer team Be Quick forms in Hairs Groningen
• 1896 American athlete Thomas Burke claims the sprint double at the Athens Olympics winning the 100m final in 12.0s; his 2nd victory of the Games after success in the 400m

• 1896 High jumper Ellery Clark leads an American sweep of the placings with a leap of 1.81m at the Athens Olympics; his 2nd victory of the Games after taking out the long jump

1st Olympic Marathon

1896 Spyridon Louis of Greece wins the inaugural Olympic marathon (2:58:50) in Athens, running the last lap accompanied by Constantine I


King of GreeceConstantine I
Sports History
1913 New York Highlanders play first MLB game as the New York Yankees; lose to the Washington Senators, 2-1 at Griffith Stadium, President Woodrow Wilson throws out 1st ball


28th US PresidentWoodrow Wilson

• 1916 The Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) is founded in New York City
• 1924 Tubular steel golf club shafts approved for championship play

Headley Forces Draw
1930 Brilliant West Indian cricket batsman George Headley scores patient 223 in drawn 4th Test against England at Kingston, Jamaica


West Indian CricketerGeorge Headley

• 1934 Stanley Cup Final, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IL: Chicago Blackhawks beat Detroit Red Wings, 1-0 in double OT for a 3-1 series win; Black Hawks' first Stanley Cup
• 1945 NFL's Boston Yanks & Brooklyn Tigers merge

Jackie Robinson's MLB Contract
1947 Jackie Robinson becomes first black player of the 20th century to sign a MLB contract; Brooklyn GM, Branch Rickey announces Dodgers had bought Robinson’s contract from Montreal Royals


Baseball PlayerJackie Robinson

Baseball Player and Sports ExecutiveBranch Rickey
13th US Masters
1949 13th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Sam Snead wins his first of 3 green jackets by 3 strokes over Johnny Bulla and Lloyd Mangrum


GolferSam Snead

• 1953 NBA Championship Finals, Minneapolis Auditorium, Minnesota, MN: Minneapolis Lakers beat NY Knicks, 91-84 for a 4-1 series victory; Lakers' 5th title in 6 years
• 1954 108th Grand National: Bryan Marshall wins aboard Royal Tan at 8/1; second consecutive GN victory for both Marshall and trainer Vincent O'Brien
• 1954 Wales beats Scotland, 15-3 at the St. Helen's Ground, Swansea to share Five Nations Rugby Championship with France and England; France's first title

US Masters Golf
1955 19th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Cary Middlecoff wins by a record 7 strokes ahead of Ben Hogan


GolferBen Hogan

GolferCary Middlecoff

• 1955 9th NBA Championship: Syrac Nats beat Ft Wayne Pistons, 4 games to 3

Stanley Cup
1956 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Jean Béliveau has a goal and 2 assists as Montreal Canadiens beat Detroit Red Wings, 3-2 for a 4-1 series win


NHL LegendJean Béliveau

• 1959 Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox gets a MLB Opening Day record tying 5 hits in 7 at-bats in a 14-inning, 9–7 win in Detroit

US Masters Golf
1960 24th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: 1958 champion Arnold Palmer birdies the final 2 holes to win by 1 stroke over runner-up Ken Venturi


GolferArnold Palmer
US Masters Golf
1961 25th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: South African Gary Player beats defending champion Arnold Palmer and amateur Charles Coe by 1 stroke to become first international champion; Monday finish because of rain


GolferGary Player

GolferArnold Palmer
Sports History
1961 Washington Senators play first game in franchise history with President John F. Kennedy in attendance; lose a 4-3 decision to the Chicago White Sox


35th US PresidentJohn F. Kennedy

• 1962 52,564 fans attend first MLB game at LA's Dodger Stadium at Chavez Ravine, a 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds
• 1962 Houston Colt .45s make their MLB debut with an 11-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Colt Stadium; outfielder Román Mejías hits a pair of 3-run homers
• 1964 Demolition begins in Upper Manhattan, New York City on Polo Grounds sports stadium (home to MLB Giants, 1891-1957, Mets, 1962-63, and NFL Jets, 1960-63) to clear way for housing project
• 1971 Philadelphia Phillies open their new home, Veterans Stadium, with a 4-1 win over the Montreal Expos; 55,352, largest ever crowd to watch a MLB game in Pennsylvania
• 1973 Kansas City Royals open their new park, Royals Stadium with 12-1 rout of the Texas Rangers; attendance 39,476
• 1975 Rangers score 8 goals against Islanders in playoffs
• 1976 Brewers' Don Money's grand slammer disallowed-Yanks win 9-7
• 1976 Cleveland Cavaliers win their 1st NBA Central Division title

US Masters Golf
1977 41st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tom Watson wins the first of his 2 green jackets, 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Jack Nicklaus


GolferTom Watson

GolferJack Nicklaus

• 1977 Cleveland Indians set club record for longest, 9 inn game (3:17)
• 1978 Formation of Major Indoor Soccer League announced
• 1979 J. R. Richard of the Houston Astros pitches a complete game but sets a MLB record by throwing 6 wild pitches in 2-1 win over the LA Dodgers at the Astrodome
• 1982 LA Kings losing 5-0 to Edmonton in 3rd period, win in OT 6-5

Sports History
1983 Baltimore's Eddie Murray hits his 1,000 career hit


MLB 1st BasemanEddie Murray

• 1988 52nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Scotsman Sandy Lyle claims his second major title with a birdie on the 72nd hole to win by 1 stroke over Mark Calcavecchia
• 1988 Islanders beat Devils 5-4 (OT) 1st round tied at 2-2

Cricket History
1990 Curtly Ambrose takes 8-45 in cricket vs England at Bridgetown


CricketerCurtly Ambrose
NHL Record
1991 LA King Wayne Gretzky scores NHL record 93rd playoff goal


Ice Hockey GreatWayne Gretzky

• 1991 Martin Zubero swims world record 200m backstroke (1:52.51)
• 1992 NHL strike ends after 10 days
• 1993 Ottawa Senators win 1st road game (Islanders) after 38 straight loses
• 1993 Pittsburgh Penguins win their NHL record 17 game winning streak

US Masters Golf
1994 58th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: José María Olazábal wins the first of 2 Masters titles, 2 strokes ahead of Tom Lehman; 6th winner from Europe in the past 7 years


GolferTom Lehman

• 1999 152nd Grand National: Irish 10/1 shot Bobbyjo, ridden by jockey Paul Carberry wins by 10 lengths from Blue Charm

US Masters Golf
2005 69th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his 4th green jacket on the 1st hole of a playoff with Chris DiMarco


GolferTiger Woods

GolferChris DiMarco

• 2005 At 16 years, 271 days James Vaughan scores for Everton in a 4-0 win against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park; becomes youngest goalscorer in EPL history
• 2005 Cricket Women's World Cup: Australia defeats India by 98 runs
• 2010 163rd Grand National: Tony McCoy wins aboard 10/1 joint-favourite Don't Push It by 5 lengths ahead of Black Apalachi
• 2011 75th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Charl Schwartzel of South Africa birdies the final 4 holes to win his first major title, 2 strokes ahead of Australian pair Adam Scott and Jason Day

US Masters Golf
2016 80th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: England's Danny Willett wins his first major title, 3 strokes ahead of Lee Westwood and defending champion Jordan Spieth


Professional GolferJordan Spieth
US Masters Golf
2022 86th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: World #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler wins first career major title; beats Irishman Rory McIlroy by 3 strokes for record $2.7m payout


GolferScottie Scheffler

GolferRory McIlroy
Sports History
2022 Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan removed from power after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament [1]


Cricketer and Prime Minister of PakistanImran Khan

 

APRIL 11

• 1750 Jack Slack retains the Champion of England boxing title after defeating Frenchman Jean Petit in 7 rounds in Harlston, England, acknowledged as the first international prizefight

Lewis Chess Pieces

1831 The 12th century Lewis chess pieces are exhibited at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, shortly after their rediscovery in a sand bank on the Scottish Isle of Lewis


Lewis chess piece of a queen made of walrus ivory in the British Museum

• 1896 Hungarian swimmer Alfréd Hajós beats Otto Herschmann of Austria by 0.6s to win the inaugural Olympic 100m freestyle final in 1:22.2 at the Athens Games; also takes out the 1,200m on the same day
• 1896 Irish tennis player John Boland, representing Great Britain wins both the men's singles and doubles finals at the Athens Olympics; Dionysios Kasdaglis of Greece loses both matches
• 1907 New York Giants future Baseball Hall of Fame backstop Roger Bresnahan becomes first catcher to wear shin guards
• 1921 KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania broadcasts 1st radio sporting event, a boxing match between lightweights Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee
• 1924 1st men's college swimming championships begin

Red Wings 1st Championship
1936 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Detroit Red Wings beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2 for a 3-1 series win; Red Wings first SC Championship


NHL GoalieGeorge Hainsworth
12th US Masters
1948 12th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Claude Harmon shoots a record-tying 279 (−9) to finish 5 strokes ahead of runner-up Cary Middlecoff


GolferCary Middlecoff
Sobers 1st WI Appearance
1955 Garfield Sobers starts run of 85 uninterrupted Test Cricket appearances for West Indies


CricketerGarfield Sobers
Drysdale's 2nd Opening Day HR
1959 Dodger pitcher Don Drysdale hits his 2nd Opening Day HR


MLB PlayerDon Drysdale

• 1961 15th NBA Championship: Bos Celtics beat St Louis Hawks, 4 games to 1
• 1962 New York Mets make a losing debut

Spahn's Left-Handed Record
1963 Milwaukee Braves future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn beats NY Mets, 6-1 for his 328th win; most by a left-hander in MLB history


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherWarren Spahn
US Masters Golf
1965 29th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jack Nicklaus wins the 2nd of his 6 Masters titles with a tournament record 271 (−17); beats Gary Player and Arnold Palmer by a record 9 strokes


GolferJack Nicklaus

GolferArnold Palmer

GolferGary Player

• 1966 30th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jack Nicklaus becomes first back-to-back champion winning an 18-hole Monday playoff with Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer
• 1966 Emmett Ashford becomes first African American major league baseball umpire in Washington Senators’ game against the Cleveland Indians at D.C. Stadium
• 1971 35th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Charles Coody wins his only major title by 2 strokes ahead of runners-up Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus

Baseball Trade
1975 Hank Aaron returns to County Stadium as a Milwaukee player after his off-season trade from the Atlanta Braves; Brewers beat Cleveland Indians, 6-2


Baseball PlayerHank Aaron

• 1975 J. P. Parisé scores an 11 sec OT goal, to see the NY Islanders eliminate the NY Rangers in their ever 1st playoff advance

US Masters Golf
1976 40th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Raymond Floyd wins his only Masters title, 8 strokes ahead of runner-up Ben Crenshaw


Golfer and Four-Time Major Championship WinnerRay Floyd

GolferBen Crenshaw
Boxing Title Fight
1981 Larry Holmes beats Trevor Berbick by unanimous decision in Las Vegas to retain his WBC heavyweight boxing title


BoxerLarry Holmes

BoxerTrevor Berbick

• 1982 46th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Craig Stadler wins his only major title by defeating Dan Pohl on the 1st hole of a sudden-death playoff

US Masters Golf
1983 47th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Seve Ballesteros of Spain wins his 2nd Masters and 3rd major title, 4 strokes ahead of Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite; Monday finish because of torrential rain


Golfer and Five-Time Major WinnerSeve Ballesteros

GolferBen Crenshaw

GolferTom Kite

• 1987 Yankees score 12 runs in 7th inning vs KC Royals
• 1987 Zoja Ivanova wins 2nd female World Cup marathon (2:30:39)

Sports History
1989 1st playoff goal scored by a goalie, Ron Hextall of visiting Philadelphia Flyers shoots into Washington Capitols empty net while his team is shorthanded in 8-5 win


NHL GoalieRon Hextall

• 1990 MLB California Angels Mark Langston & Mike Witt, no-hit Seattle, 1-0
• 1990 NY Rangers beat NY Islanders 6-1, Rangers lead 3-1 in preliminary playoffs
• 1992 MLB Cleveland Indians set team record for long game loss to Boston Red Sox (19 innings - 6½ hr)

US Masters Golf
1993 57th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Bernhard Langer of Germany wins his second green jacket by 4 strokes from Chip Beck


Golfer and Two-Time Masters ChampionBernhard Langer

• 1996 Detroit Red Wings become 2nd NHL team to win 60 games in a season

US Masters Golf
1999 63rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: José María Olazábal of Spain wins his second Masters title, 2 strokes ahead of Davis Love III and 3 from of Greg Norman


GolferGreg Norman

GolferDavis Love III

• 1999 Neil Jenkins converts a Scott Gibbs try to give Wales a famous, 32-31 win over England at Wembley Stadium; allows Scotland to win final Five Nations Rugby Championship; reverts to 6 teams in 2000
• 2000 MLB: Pacific Bell Park (now Oracle Park) in San Francisco, California and Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan open

Cricket History
2000 South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje is sacked after admitting dishonesty following match-fixing allegations in India


CricketerHansie Cronje
US Masters Golf
2004 68th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Phil Mickelson claims his first major title with a birdie on the final hole to win by 1 stroke over Ernie Els of South Africa


GolferPhil Mickelson

GolferErnie Els

• 2010 74th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Phil Mickelson wins his 3rd green jacket by 3 strokes from England's Lee Westwood
• 2015 168th Grand National: Jockey Leighton Aspell wins his second consecutive GN aboard 25/1 shot Many Clouds; owner Trevor Hemmings' 3rd GN victory
• 2021 85th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Hideki Matsuyama become first Japanese male to win a golf major; hangs on to beat American Will Zalatoris by 1 stroke

PM Shehbaz Sharif
2022 Shehbaz Sharif elected Pakistan's new Prime Minister by the country's parliament, replacing Imran Khan [1]


Cricketer and Prime Minister of PakistanImran Khan

• 2023 NHL Boston Bruins break record for most team points in a season at 133, in a 5-2 victory over visiting Washington Capitols; Montreal Canadiens held record of 132 since 1977

 

APRIL 12

• 1858 1st US billiards championship, Michael J Phelan wins in Detroit
• 1877 Catcher's mask 1st used in a baseball game
• 1896 Stamasia Portrisi is 1st woman to win a marathon (5:30 in Athens)

• 1909 Philadelphia's Shibe Park (later Connie Mack Stadium), baseball's first steel and concrete stadium, opens; Athletics win 8-1 against Boston Red Sox
• 1930 4th Test Cricket WI v England ends in a draw after nine days
• 1930 Wilfred Rhodes ends Test Cricket career aged 52 years 165 days

McCarthy Yankees Debut

1931 Joe McCarthy debuts as New York Yankees manager


Baseball ManagerJoe McCarthy

• 1937 Engineer Frank Whittle ground-tests the first jet engine designed to power an aircraft in Rugby, England
• 1938 Stanley Cup Final, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IL: Chicago Black Hawks beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1 for a 3-1 series win; only team to win Cup with losing regular season record
• 1940 NFL cuts clipping penalty from 25 yards to 15 yards
• 1941 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Boston Bruins defeat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4-0 series sweep

LPGA Titleholders
1946 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Louise Suggs wins her first major title by 2 strokes from Eileen Stulb


Golfer and Co-Founder of the LPGALouise Suggs
17th US Masters
1953 17th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Hogan shatters the Masters scoring record by 5 strokes with a 274 (−14) to finish 5 strokes ahead of runner-up Ed Oliver; Hogan's second Masters


GolferBen Hogan
US Masters Golf
1954 18th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Sam Snead wins his 3rd and final Masters by 1 stroke in an 18-hole playoff with Ben Hogan


GolferSam Snead

GolferBen Hogan

• 1954 8th NBA Championship: Min Lakers beat Syracuse Nationals, 4 games to 3
• 1955 1st game in KC, KC A's beat Detroit Tigers, 6-2
• 1958 12th NBA Championship: St Louis Hawks beat Bost Celtics, 4 games to 2

Sports History
1960 MLB Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck debuts "Exploding Scoreboard" at Chicago's Comiskey Park


MLB Team Owner and PromoterBill Veeck
Sports History
1961 Douglas MacArthur declines offer to become baseball commissioner


US WWII GeneralDouglas MacArthur
US Masters Golf
1964 28th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Arnold Palmer wins by 6 shots from Dave Marr and Jack Nicklaus to become the first 4-time winner of the Masters; his 7th and final major victory


GolferArnold Palmer

GolferJack Nicklaus

• 1965 1st regular season MLB game at Houston Astrodome; visiting Philadelphia Phillies beat Astros 2-0
• 1966 Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium opens; Pirates beat Braves 3-2
• 1969 Simon & Garfunkel releases "Boxer"
• 1969 Wales beats England, 30-9 at the National Stadium, Cardiff to clinch their 16th Five Nations Rugby Championship and 11th Triple Crown

Sports History
1970 Yankees dedicate plaques to Mickey Mantle & Joe DiMaggio


Baseball LegendMickey Mantle

Baseball PlayerJoe DiMaggio
Sports History
1980 Canadian one-legged distance runner Terry Fox begins his "Marathon of Hope" attempt to cross the country at St. John's, Newfoundland


Distance Runner and Cancer Research ActivistTerry Fox

• 1980 Milwaukee beats Boston Red Sox, 18-1 (Cooper & Money hit grand slams)
• 1980 US Olympic Committee endorses a boycott of the Moscow summer Olympics

US Masters Golf
1981 45th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tom Watson wins his second green jacket and 5th major title by 2 strokes over Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller


GolferTom Watson

GolferJack Nicklaus
US Masters Golf
1987 51st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Larry Mize chips-in from 140 feet for an improbable birdie 3 on the 2nd playoff hole to beat Greg Norman for his only major title


GolferGreg Norman

• 1987 Ahmed Salah wins 2nd World Cup marathon (2:10:55)
• 1988 Devils 4-2 over Islanders-Devils lead 3-2 in 1st round

Sports History
1988 Frank Robinson replaces Cal Ripkin as manager of Baltimore Orioles


Baseball Outfielder and ManagerFrank Robinson
Sports History
1989 Peter Ueberroth deal to purchase Eastern Airlines falls through


Olympic Executive and Commissioner of BaseballPeter Ueberroth

• 1992 2nd lowest NBA scoring game - Detroit Pistons 72, NY Knicks 61

US Masters Golf
1992 56th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Fred Couples wins his only major title, 2 strokes ahead of 1976 champion Raymond Floyd


Golfer and Masters ChampionFred Couples

Golfer and Four-Time Major Championship WinnerRay Floyd

• 1992 MLB Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Young no-hits Cleveland Indians, but loses 2-1
• 1992 NY Mets lose 1st 3 home games for 1st time since 1962
• 1993 American Jeff Rouse swims world record 100m backstroke (51.43 sec) at Sheffield, England
• 1998 62nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Mark O'Meara claims his first major title with a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win by 1 stroke from David Duval and Fred Couples

Cricket History
2004 West Indian cricket batsman Brian Lara smashes highest individual score in a Test innings with 400 not out (773 mins; 582 balls; 43x4, 4x6) in drawn 4th Test against England at Antigua


CricketerBrian Lara

• 2009 73rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ángel Cabrera wins his 2nd major title in a playoff with Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry; Cabrera, first Masters champion from Argentina and South America

US Masters Golf
2015 79th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jordan Spieth leads wire-to-wire to win his 1st major title by 4 strokes from Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose


Professional GolferJordan Spieth

GolferPhil Mickelson

• 2019 Melbourne captain Cameron Smith becomes highest point scorer in Australian Rugby League history; 49th minute penalty in Storm's 18-12 win over North Queensland in Townsville takes him to 2,420; Hazem El Masri, 2,418

 

APRIL13

• 1908 Groundbreaking for Philadelphia's Shibe Park, home of MLB Athletics (AL), 1909-54, MLB Phillies (NL), 1938-70, and NFL Eagles, 1940-57

Johnson's 7th Shutout

1926 At 38, Walter Johnson pitches his 7th opening day shutout


MLB PitcherWalter Johnson

• 1926 Cyclists without bicycle-tax-stamp rounded up in Amsterdam
• 1927 Stanley Cup Final, Ottawa Auditorium, Ottawa, ON: Ottawa Senators beat Boston Bruins, 3-1 for a 2-0-2 series win

Stanley Cup Final
1933 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: New York Rangers beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 1-0 in OT for a 3-1 series win; first best-of-4 Finals series


NHL GoalieGeorge Hainsworth

• 1940 American athlete Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam, using a bamboo pole, becomes 1st man to pole vault 15 ft, at University of California, Berkeley
• 1940 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario: New York Rangers beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2 for 4-2 series victory; Rangers last Cup win for 54 years

9th US Masters
1942 9th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Byron Nelson wins an 18-hole playoff by 1 stroke over runner-up Ben Hogan


GolferByron Nelson

GolferBen Hogan

• 1944 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens beat Chicago Blackhawks, 5-4 in overtime for a 4-0 series sweep; Canadiens' first SC triumph since 1931
• 1946 Eddie Klepp, a white pitcher signed by defending Negro League champ Cleveland Buckeyes, is barred from field in Birmingham, Alabama
• 1949 Basketball Association of America Finals: Minneapolis Lakers beat Washington Capitols, 77-56 to take series, 4 games to 2; BAA and National Basketball League merge later that year to create the NBA
• 1953 1st game of Milwaukee Braves, they beat Cincinnati Reds 2-0
• 1954 Baltimore Orioles 1st game, loses to Tigers in Detroit 3-0

Aaron's 1st Game
1954 Milwaukee Braves' Hank Aaron's 1st game


Baseball PlayerHank Aaron

• 1957 11th NBA Championship: Bost Celtics beat St Louis Hawks, 4 games to 3

Baseball Record
1962 Stan Musial scores his 1,869th run, setting a new National League record


MLB LegendStan Musial
Baseball History
1963 Cincinnati Reds Pete Rose triples for his 1st major league base hit


MLB Player and ManagerPete Rose
US Masters Golf
1969 33rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: George Archer wins his only major title, 1 stroke ahead of runners-up Billy Casper, George Knudson, and Tom Weiskopf


GolferBilly Casper

• 1970 34th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Billy Casper defeats Gene Littler, 69 to 74 in a Monday 18-hole playoff to win his 3rd major title; last 18-hole playoff at the Masters
• 1972 1st baseball players' strike ends after 13 days

US Masters Golf
1975 39th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jack Nicklaus wins his 5th Masters title, 1 stroke ahead of Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf; Lee Elder, first African-American to compete in the tournament


GolferJack Nicklaus

• 1976 1st NBA playoff game for Cleveland Cavliers, they lose 100-95 to Washington

US Masters Golf
1980 44th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: 23-year-old Spaniard Seve Ballesteros wins his first Masters, 4 strokes ahead of Jack Newton and Gibby Gilbert


Golfer and Five-Time Major WinnerSeve Ballesteros

• 1980 US and its allies boycott the Summer Olympics in Moscow in protest against Russia's invasion of Afghanistan
• 1983 Undefeated middleweight boxer Tony Ayala gets 35 years on sex assault
• 1984 India beat Pak by 58 runs to win 1st Asia Cricket Cup in Sharjah
• 1984 Montreal Expos infielder Pete Rose becomes 1st NL to get 4,000 hits in a career
• 1985 "TASS" denounces US boycott of Moscow Olympics
• 1985 Katrin Dörre wins 1st female World Cup marathon (2:33:30)
• 1986 50th Masters Golf Tournament: Jack Nicklaus wins his record 18th major with a 1-stroke victory over Greg Norman and Tom Kite; shoots final round 65 (−7); at 46 the oldest Masters winner
• 1986 Boston Celtics end season with a 40-1 home win record
• 1986 Spanish Grand Prix decided by 0.014 of a second
• 1987 1st 3 San Diego Padres hit HRs off SF starter Roger Mason
• 1990 4th largest NBA crowd (45,458) see Orlando play at Minneapolis
• 1990 NY Rangers beat NY Islanders 6-5, Rangers win preliminary, 4-1
• 1992 Longest 2 undefeated baseball teams to meet (NY Yanks 5-0 vs Toronto Blue Jays 6-0); Yanks score 3 in top of 9th to win 5-2
• 1992 Lou Carnesecca retires as coach of St John's basketball team

Sports History
1994 Pedro Martínez takes a perfect game through 7+1⁄3 innings until hitting Reggie Sanders with a pitch, leading to a bench-clearing brawl


Baseball PitcherPedro Martínez

• 1995 Yankees beat the Mets 2-0
• 1996 En route to NHL record 62 victories Detroit Red Wings win #61
• 1996 Ottawa Senators eliminate Stanley Cup Champs NJ Devils from playoff
• 1997 48th time opposing pitchers hit HRs, Carlos Perez (Mon)/Darren Holmes

US Masters Golf
1997 61st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his first major title, a record 12 strokes ahead of Tom Kite; 4-round total 270 (−18) is tournament record


GolferTiger Woods

GolferTom Kite

• 1997 Hartford Whalers last NHL game

Sports History
1997 NHL Pitts Penguin Mario Lemieux's last NHL regular game


NHL Legend and OwnerMario Lemieux

• 1997 Rare double doubleheader played in the same city Giants vs Mets & Oakland A's vs Yankees in NY after rain previous day
• 2003 67th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Mike Weir wins his only major title in a 1-hole playoff over Len Mattiace; only Canadian to win a major and first left-handed Masters champion

Baseball Record
2004 Barry Bonds hits his 661st career home run, passing his godfather Willie Mays on the MLB all-time list


MLB LegendBarry Bonds

• 2008 72nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Trevor Immelman of South Africa wins his first major title, 3 strokes ahead of Tiger Woods; Immelman leads, or ties for the lead after every round

US Masters Golf
2014 78th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Bubba Watson wins his 2nd Masters, 3 shots ahead of runners-up Jonas Blixt and Jordan Spieth


Professional GolferJordan Spieth

• 2014 Kenyan Wilson Kipsang wins the London Marathon

Boxing Title Fight
2014 Manny Pacquiao defeats Timothy Bradley to regain his WBO welterweight boxing title


BoxerManny Pacquiao

• 2019 Gregg Popovich surpasses Lenny Wilkens to became the all-time winningest coach in NBA history with his 1,413th win as San Antonio Spurs beat Denver Nuggets, 101-96 in Western Conference Playoffs

 

APRIL 14

Chesbro's 1st Win

1904 NY Highlanders' future Baseball HOF pitcher Jack Chesbro's first of 41 wins this season; pitches complete game and beats Boston Americans, 8-2 at Hilltop Park, NYC


Baseball PitcherJack Chesbro


Taft's First Pitch
1910 US President William Howard Taft begins tradition of throwing ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day of baseball season


27th US PresidentWilliam Howard Taft

• 1917 Chicago White Sox pitcher Ed Cicotte no-hits St Louis Browns, 11-0
• 1925 First regular-season Chicago Cubs game broadcast on radio (WGN) by caller Quin Ryan; Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-2
• 1928 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: In only their 2nd season in the NHL, New York Rangers beat Montreal Maroons, 2-1 for a 3-2 series win

Stanley Cup Final
1931 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens beat Chicago Blackhawks, 2-0 for a 3-2 series win; Canadiens' back-to-back Championships


NHL GoalieGeorge Hainsworth

• 1941 45th Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:30:38; his third victory in the event
• 1948 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Toronto Maple Leafs go back-to-back with a 7-2 win over Detroit Red Wings for a 4-0 series sweep

Sports History
1955 26-year-old catcher/outfielder Elston Howard becomes first African-American to play for NY Yankees; hits single with 1 RBI in 8-4 loss to Boston Red Sox


Baseball CatcherElston Howard

• 1955 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Detroit Red Wings win back-to-back titles; beat Montreal Canadiens, 3-1 for a 4-3 series victory
• 1960 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Montreal Canadiens beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-0 for a 4 game sweep; 5th consecutive title
• 1962 France retains the Five Nations Rugby Championship with an 11-0 win over Ireland at Stade Colombes, Paris

Baseball History
1964 LA Dodgers' future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax throws his 9th complete game without allowing a walk in 4-0 Opening Day win over St. Louis Cardinals


Baseball PitcherSandy Koufax

• 1968 32nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Bob Goalby shoots a final round 66 (-6) to win his only major title, 1 stroke ahead of Roberto De Vicenzo who has his card famously marked incorrectly
• 1968 First NBA game at New York's iconic Madison Square Garden; NY Knicks beat San Diego Rockets, 114-102
• 1969 First regular-season MLB game played outside the United States; Montreal Expos beat St. Louis Cardinals, 8-7 at Parc Jarry, Montreal
• 1973 Ireland edges France, 6-4 at Lansdowne Road, Dublin to create a 5-way tie for the Five Nations Rugby Championship; each nation wins their 2 home matches

US Masters Golf
1974 38th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Gary Player wins the 2nd of his 3 Masters titles, 2 strokes ahead of Dave Stockton and Tom Weiskopf


GolferGary Player

Golfer and Two-Time PGA ChampionDave Stockton

• 1983 NY Islanders tie own record with 2 shorthanded playoff goals (vs NY Rangers)

US Masters Golf
1985 49th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Bernhard Langer wins by 2 strokes from Seve Ballesteros, Curtis Strange & Raymond Floyd; first German champion


Golfer and Two-Time Masters ChampionBernhard Langer

Golfer and Five-Time Major WinnerSeve Ballesteros

Golfer and Four-Time Major Championship WinnerRay Floyd

• 1985 Ahmed Salah wins 1st World Cup marathon (2:08:09)
• 1985 Bob Carpenter is unsuccessful on Washington Capitals 1st playoff penalty shot
• 1988 NHL playoffs: New Jersey Devils win 6-5 over NY Islanders to take 1st round 4-2
• 1991 55th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Welshman Ian Woosnam wins his only major title, 1 stroke ahead of José María Olazábal; 4th straight year the Masters champion is from the UK
• 1991 Chic Blackhawks becomes 1st NHL regular season champion in 20 years to lose in 1st round of the playoffs (To Minn North Stars)
• 1994 NJ Devils end best regular season, 47-25-12 record for 106 points
• 1995 India beats Sri Lanka to win the Asia Cricket Cup final in Sharjah

US Masters Golf
1996 60th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Englishman Nick Faldo wins his 3rd Masters and 6th and final major title, 5 strokes ahead of Greg Norman of Australia


Golfer and Six-Time Major Championship WinnerNick Faldo

GolferGreg Norman

• 1996 Detroit Red Wings win NHL record 62 games

US Masters Golf
2002 66th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods becomes the third player to claim back-to-back Masters, three strokes ahead of Retief Goosen of South Africa


GolferTiger Woods

• 2007 160th Grand National: 33–1 shot Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power, edges out McKelvey to win by three-quarters of a length
• 2012 165th Grand National: Daryl Jacob wins aboard Neptune Collonges; beats Sunnyhillboy in a photo finish and the closest ever GN finish
• 2013 77th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Adam Scott wins his first major title and becomes first Australian Masters champion with a 2nd hole sudden death playoff win against Ángel Cabrera
• 2018 171st Grand National: Davey Russell wins aboard 10/1 Tiger Roll in a photo finish from Pleasant Company
• 2019 83rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his 5th Masters title by 1 stroke from Xander Schauffele, Dustin Johnson & Brooks Koepka; Woods' 15th major and first in 11 years
• 2021 Chicago White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodón no-hits the Cleveland Indians, 8-0 at Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago

US Masters Golf
2024 88th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: World #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler beats Sweden's Ludvig Åberg by 4 strokes for his second Masters win in 3 years


GolferScottie Scheffler

 

APRIL 15

• 1896 I (modern) Summer Olympic Games close at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece; USA wins gold medal count, 11; Greece wins total medal count, 46; IOC has retroactively assigned gold, silver & bronze medals to 3 best placed athletes in each event
• 1901 5th Boston Marathon won for second straight year by Canadian Jim Caffrey in race record 2:29:23.6
• 1907 11th Boston Marathon won by Canadian Tom Longboat in race record 2:24:24

Taft Throws Out 1st Ball

1910 William Howard Taft is first US President to throw out the 1st ball at a baseball game


27th US PresidentWilliam Howard Taft
Johnson's Strike Out Record
1911 Walter Johnson pitches a record tying 4 strike outs in an inning


MLB PitcherWalter Johnson

• 1912 16th Boston Marathon won by Mike Ryan in race record 2:21:18.2

Marquard's No-Hit Game
1915 NY Giant Rube Marquard no-hits Bkln, 2-0


Baseball PlayerRube Marquard

• 1918 22nd Boston Marathon won by Camp Devens relay team; race run as relay for 10-man military teams
• 1925 NHL's NY Americans (formerly Hamilton Tigers) 1st game, lose 3-1

Babe Ruth's 60 HR Record
1927 Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits #1 of MLB record season 60 HRs; tees off on A's Howard Ehmke in 1st inning of New York's 6-3 win over Philadelphia


Baseball LegendBabe Ruth

• 1929 33rd Boston Marathon won by Canadian Johnny Miles in 2:33:08.6; his second win in the event
• 1935 39th Boston Marathon won by John A Kelley in 2:32:07.4
• 1937 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Detroit Red Wings beat New York Rangers, 3-0 for a 3-2 series win; back-to-back titles for Red Wings
• 1940 44th Boston Marathon won by Gérard Côté of Canada in 2:28:28.6; first of 4 wins in the event
• 1946 50th Boston Marathon won by Stylianos Kyriakides of Greece in 2:29:27; first and only Cypriot athlete to win the event

Robinson 1st MLB African American
1947 Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American to play in US major league baseball (Dodgers)


Baseball PlayerJackie Robinson

• 1952 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Detroit Red Wings beat Montreal Canadiens, 3-0 for a 4-0 series sweep
• 1954 Orioles 1st game in Baltimore beat White Sox 3-1
• 1954 Yankees dedicate a plaque to Edward Barrow
• 1957 61st Boston Marathon won by John J Kelley in 2:20:05; course length changed
• 1958 1st baseball game in California, SF Giants beat LA Dodgers, 8-0
• 1961 France wins it’s 2nd outright Five Nations Rugby Championship with an 15-3 victory over Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Dublin
• 1963 67th Boston Marathon won by Aurèle Vandendriessche of Belgium in race record 2:18:58
• 1965 NFL changes penalty flag from white to bright gold
• 1967 France wins its 4th outright Five Nations Rugby Championship with an 11-6 win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Dublin
• 1968 72nd Boston Marathon: Amby Burfoot wins in 2:22:17; Bobbi Gibb 1st woman for 3rd straight year in 3:30:00 (unsanctioned)

Sports History
1968 Houston Astros beat NY Mets, 1-0, in 24 innings at the Astrodome; starting pitchers Tom Seaver and Don Wilson pitch 10 and 9 innings respectively in game that lasts over 6 hours


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherTom Seaver

• 1974 78th Boston Marathon: Neil Cusack of Ireland takes men's race in 2:13:39; American Miki Gorman women's winner in 2:47:11
• 1976 Yankee stadium reopens, Yanks beat Twins after trailing 4-0
• 1977 1st baseball game at Montreal's Olympic Stadium

US Masters Golf
1979 43rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Fuzzy Zoeller wins his only Masters with a birdie on the 2nd hole of a playoff with Ed Sneed and Tom Watson


GolferTom Watson

GolferFuzzy Zoeller

• 1984 48th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Crenshaw wins the first of his 2 green jackets, 2 strokes ahead of 1977 & 1981 champion Tom Watson
• 1985 89th Boston Marathon: Englishman Geoff Smith repeats as men's champion in 2:14:05; American Lisa Larsen Weidenbach takes women's title in 2:34:06

Cricket History
1986 Viv Richards century off 56 balls v England in Antigua Test Cricket


Cricketer and Master BlasterViv Richards

• 1989 Hillsborough disaster, 96 are crushed to death and 766 injured at the Hillsborough Football Stadium in Sheffield, England, during a FA semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest
• 1989 Sue Marchiano wins 3rd World Cup female marathon (2:30:48)

Senior PGA Championship
1990 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: South African Gary Player wins his third event title by 2 strokes from Chi-Chi Rodríguez


GolferGary Player

GolferChi-Chi Rodríguez

• 1991 95th Boston Marathon: Ibrahim Hussein of Kenya wins his 2nd men's title in 2:11:06; Wanda Panfil of Poland woman's champion in 2:24:18

NBA Record
1991 Magic Johnson sets NBA record for career assists with 9,898


NBA LegendMagic Johnson

• 1991 Sacramento Kings set NBA record, losing 35th consecutive game on road

Sports History
1992 NY Islander, Al Arbour, coaches most NHL games (1,438)


Ice Hockey Player and CoachAl Arbour
Boston Marathon
1996 100th Boston Marathon: Moses Tanui of Kenya takes centenary men's title in 2:09:15.9; 3-peat for Uta Pippig of Germany in women's race in 2:27:12


Long Distance RunnerUta Pippig

• 1996 Boston Athletic Association officially recognizes Bobbi Gibb's three Boston Marathon wins (1966, 1967, and 1968) in era prior to women being sanctioned for the race
• 1997 Baseball honors Jackie Robinson by retiring #42 for all teams
• 2000 NFL Draft: Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown first pick by Cleveland Browns
• 2001 The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, GC at Desert Mountain: Doug Tewell wins his second & final Champions Tour major by 9 strokes from Mike McCullough
• 2002 106th Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Rodgers Rop claims men's event in 2:09:02; Margaret Okayo women's winner in 2:20:43
• 2013 117th Boston Marathon: Lelisa Desisa Benti of Ethiopia men's winner in 2:10:22; Rita Jeptoo of Kenya wins women's section in 2:26:25
• 2013 Boston Marathon bombings: 3 people are killed and 183 injured after two explosions near the finish line

Laureus Awards
2015 Laureus World Sports Awards, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai, China: Sportsman: Novak Đoković; Sportswoman: Genzebe Dibaba; Team: German Men's National Football team


Tennis ChampionNovak Đoković

• 2019 123rd Boston Marathon: Lawrence Cherono of Kenya wins in 2:07:58, just 0.1s ahead of Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa; Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia is women's champion in 2:23.31
• 2019 3 days after winning Hobey Baker Award as top college hockey player, Cale Makar becomes first defenseman to score in NHL debut during the playoffs in Colorado's 6-2 Game 3 win over Calgary
• 2019 Los Angeles Clippers overcome an NBA record 31-point deficit to score an improbable 135-131 Game 2 playoff victory over the Golden State Warriors in Oakland; shooting guard Lou Williams 36 points

 

APRIL 16

• 1900 4th Boston Marathon won by Canadian Jim Caffrey in race record 2:39:44.4
• 1906 10th Boston Marathon won by 18-year old Tim Ford in 2:45:45; youngest race winner
• 1912 Pirates turn a rare 5-3-7 doubleplay (left fielder covers 2nd base)

• 1917 21st Boston Marathon won by Bill Kennedy in 2:28:37.2

27th Boston Marathon

1923 27th Boston Marathon won by Clarence DeMar in 2:23:37.4 for second straight year; 3rd race victory


Marathon RunnerClarence DeMar

• 1928 32nd Boston Marathon won by Clarence DeMar in 2:37:07.8; back-to-back wins for his 6th race title
• 1929 Cleveland rookie center fielder Earl Averill, becomes first American League player to hit a HR on 1st at bat; Indians beat Detroit Tigers, 5-4 at League Park
• 1929 New York Yankees become first MLB team to permanently feature numbers on backs of uniforms; numbers correspond to position in batting order
• 1934 38th Boston Marathon won by Dave Komonen of Canada in 2:32:53.8

Babe Ruth's NL Debut
1935 40-year-old future Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Babe Ruth debuts in the NL with a HR and single in Boston Braves 4-2 win over the NY Giants, in Boston


Baseball LegendBabe Ruth

• 1939 Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Boston Bruins beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-1 for a 4-1 series win; first best-of-7 SC Final series

Only Opening Day No-Hitter
1940 Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller hurls the first and only Opening Day no-hitter in MLB history; beats Chicago WSWhite Sox, 1-0 at Comiskey Park


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherBob Feller

• 1945 49th Boston Marathon won by John A Kelley in 2:30:40.2; his second event victory

Ott's Final MLB HR
1946 Mel Ott playing in right field for NY Giants hits his 511th and final MLB home run in 8-4 Opening Day win over Philadelphia Phillies


Baseball Player and ManagerMel Ott

• 1949 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: 3-peat for Toronto Maple Leafs as they beat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4 game series sweep
• 1951 55th Boston Marathon won by Shigeki Tanaka of Japan in 2:27:45
• 1953 Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Connie Ryan bats 6 from 6 in a 14-12 defeat against the Pirates at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh
• 1953 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins, 1-0 for a 4-1 series win
• 1954 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Detroit Red Wings beat Montreal Canadiens, 2-1 in OT for a 4-3 series victory
• 1956 60th Boston Marathon won by Antti Viskari of Finland in race record 2:14:14
• 1957 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Dickie Moore has a goal and 2 assists as Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins, 5-1 for a 4-1 series victory
• 1959 MLB Philadelphia Phillies' Dave Philley gets a major league record 9th straight pinch hit, having ended the previous season with a streak of 8
• 1961 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Chicago Blackhawks beat Detroit Red Wings, 4-1 for a 4-2 series victory
• 1962 66th Boston Marathon won by Eino Oksanen of Finland in 2:23:48; second straight win and 3rd title overall
• 1972 Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Burt Hooton hurls a 4-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field, Chicago
• 1973 77th Boston Marathon: American double; Jon Anderson men's champion in 2:16:03; Jacqueline Hansen wins women's title in 3:05:59

Sports History
1978 Cardinals' Bob Forsch no-hits Philadelphia Phillies, 5-0, in St. Louis


Baseball PitcherBob Forsch
Boston Marathon
1979 83rd Boston Marathon: American double; Bill Rodgers wins 2nd straight event and 3rd overall title in 2:09:27; Joan Benoit women's champion in 2:35:15


Marathon RunnerBill Rodgers
Sports History
1980 Arthur Ashe retires from professional tennis


Tennis PlayerArthur Ashe
Baseball Record
1983 Steve Garvey sets NL record by playing in 1,118 consecutive games


Baseball PlayerSteve Garvey

• 1984 88th Boston Marathon: Englishman Geoff Smith wins men's event in 2:10:34; Lorraine Moller of New Zealand women's champion in 2:29:28

Baseball Record
1984 Oakland A's Dave Kingman hits 3 HRs including a grand slam


Baseball PlayerDave Kingman
NBA Record
1987 Michael Jordan becomes the second NBA player in history to score 3,000 points in a season


Basketball SuperstarMichael Jordan
Sports History
1989 1st The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, GC at Desert Mountain: Don Bies wins his lone career Champions Tour major title by 1 stroke from Gary Player


GolferGary Player

• 1989 Costa Rica beats US 1-0, in 3rd round of 1990 world soccer cup
• 1989 Zeleka Metaferia wins 3rd World Cup marathon (2:10:28)

Boston Marathon
1990 94th Boston Marathon: Gelindo Bordin is first Italian event winner in race record 2:08:19; Portugal's Rosa Mota wins her 3rd woman's title in 2:25:24


Marathon RunnerRosa Mota

• 1991 St Louis Blues becomes 8th NHL team in Play-off to come back from a 3-1 deficit as they beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in game 7
• 1992 NY Rangers win team record 50th game

Senior PGA Championship
1995 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Raymond Floyd wins by 5 strokes from fellow Americans John Paul Cain, Larry Gilbert and Lee Trevino


Golfer and Four-Time Major Championship WinnerRay Floyd

GolferLee Trevino
Senior PGA Championship
2000 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Doug Tewell wins first of 2 Champions Tour major titles with a convincing 7 stroke margin from the foursome of Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Larry Nelson and Dana Quigley


Golfer and Three-Time Major Championship WinnerLarry Nelson

GolferHale Irwin

GolferTom Kite

• 2001 105th Boston Marathon: Lee Bong-Ju of South Korea men's winner in 2:09:43; Catherine Ndereba of Kenya wins back-to-back women's titles in 2:23:53
• 2003 Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan plays his final NBA game, in Philadelphia, where he receives a 3 minute standing ovation.

Boston Marathon
2007 111th Boston Marathon: Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya goes back-to-back for 3rd title in 2:14:13; Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia wins women's race in 2:29:18


Long-Distance RunnerRobert Kipkoech Cheruiyot
Laureus Awards
2009 Laureus World Sports Awards, (ceremony cancelled GFC): Sportsman: Usain Bolt; Sportswoman: Yelena Isinbayeva; Team: China Olympic team


Olympic SprinterUsain Bolt

• 2012 116th Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Wesley Korir wins men's section in 2:12:40; Sharon Cherop first woman in 2:31:50
• 2018 122nd Boston Marathon: Yuki Kawauchi of Japan wins men's race in 2:15:58; Desiree Linden (2:39:54) first American to win women's title since 1985

Sports History
2019 Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history with a 4-year $140m extension including record $65m signing bonus


NFL QuarterbackRussell Wilson

• 2023 Spanish extreme athlete Beatriz Flamini exits a deep cave in Granada, Spain, after spending 500 days isolated underground in probable world record, as part of social isolation experiment [1]

 

APRIL 17

Police Halt Boxing Match

1860 Champion of England Tom Sayers and American John Heenan fight a brutal 2-hour, 27-minute draw that ends only after police stop the fight near Farnborough in England, acknowledged as the first world title bout


John Heenan, left, squares up to Tom Sayers in their championship bout. Photograph: Hulton Archive

• 1875 Modern snooker is invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain, a bored British officer in Jabalpur, India
• 1892 1st Sunday NL baseball game, Reds beat Cards 5-1
• 1899 3rd Boston Marathon won by Lawrence Brignolia in 2:54:38
• 1905 9th Boston Marathon won by Fred Lorz in 2:38:25.4

15th Boston Marathon
1911 15th Boston Marathon won by Clarence DeMar in race record 2:21:39.6; first of 7 race victories


Marathon RunnerClarence DeMar

• 1916 20th Boston Marathon won by Arthur Roth in 2:27:16.4
• 1922 26th Boston Marathon won by Clarence DeMar in race record 2:18:10; his 2nd race victory; first of 3 consecutive wins
• 1923 Longest NL opening game, Phillies & Dodgers tie 5-5 in 14

Ruth's Ulcer Surgery
1925 NY Yankee Babe Ruth has ulcer surgery


Baseball LegendBabe Ruth

• 1933 37th Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:31:01.6
• 1933 Chicago Bears win their 1st NFL Game beating NY Giants 23-21
• 1934 Fenway Park in Boston re-opens after a major renovation including a hand-operated electronic scoreboard, though it didn't help the Red Sox who lost to the Washington Senators 6-5
• 1939 43rd Boston Marathon won by Ellison Brown in 2:28:51.8; his second victory in the event

Joe Louis KOs Jack Rope
1939 In his 6th title defense, world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis KOs Jack Roper in 1 at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California


Boxer and World Heavyweight ChampionJoe Louis

• 1944 48th Boston Marathon won by Gerard Cote of Canada in 2:31:50.4; second straight victory; 3rd of 4 titles

Robinson's 1st MLB Hit
1947 Jackie Robinson bunts for his 1st major league hit


Baseball PlayerJackie Robinson

• 1950 54th Boston Marathon won by Kee Yong Ham of South Korea in 2:32:39

Sports History
1951 Mickey Mantle makess his MLB debut, with the New York Yankees; he goes 1 for 4


Baseball LegendMickey Mantle

• 1953 Mickey Mantle hits a 565' (172 m) HR in Washington, D.C.'s Griffith Stadium

Baseball Trade
1960 MLB Cleveland Indians trade reigning home run champion Rocky Colavito to Detroit Tigers for reigning AL batting champion Harvey Kuenn; fans are unhappy


Baseball PlayerRocky Colavito

• 1961 65th Boston Marathon won by Eino Oksanen of Finland in 2:23:39; his 2nd event title
• 1963 NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspends Green Bay Packers halfback Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras indefinitely for betting on football games
• 1964 1st game at Shea Stadium, NY Mets lose to Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3
• 1966 100th international soccer match between Netherlands and Belgium (3-1)
• 1967 71st Boston Marathon: Dave McKenzie of New Zealand wins in 2:15:45; American Bobbi Gibb 1st woman for 2nd straight year in 3:27:17 (unsanctioned)

Sports History
1967 Italian boxer Nino Benvenuti beats American Emile Griffith in a 15 round points decision to win world middleweight crown at Madison Square Garden; start of famous trilogy of fights between the pair


BoxerNino Benvenuti

BoxerEmile Griffith

• 1968 A's 1st game in Oakland-Alameda Stadium, lose 4-1 to Baltimore Orioles
• 1969 Mont Expos Bill Stoneman no-hits Phillies, 7-0
• 1972 76th Boston Marathon: Olavi Suomalainen of Finland wins men's race in 2:15:39; American Nina Kuscsik takes inaugural women's title in 3:10:26; first year women's race officially sanctioned
• 1972 Kiteman attempting to throw out 1st ball in Phillie Vet crashes into centerfield seats

Sports History
1976 Australian tennis star Evonne Goolagong Cawley wins her second WTA Tour Championship at the Los Angeles Sports Arena; beats Chris Evert 6–3, 5–7, 6–3


Tennis LegendChris Evert

Tennis PlayerEvonne Goolagong Cawley
Baseball Record
1976 Trailing 12-1, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 18-16 in 10 innings at Wrigley Field; Mike Schmidt hits four consecutive home runs in the greatest comeback in NL history


MLB Third BasemanMike Schmidt
Boston Marathon
1978 82nd Boston Marathon: US double; Bill Rodgers wins his 2nd men's title in 2:10:13; Gayle Barron women's champion in 2:44:52


Marathon RunnerBill Rodgers

• 1981 New York Islander Dennis Potvin's 3 playoff power-play goals vs Edmonton Oilers tie NHL record
• 1981 Ranger's Anders Hedberg is 2nd to score on a Stanley Cup penalty shot
• 1983 Grete Waltz runs female world record marathon (2:25:29)

Baseball Record
1983 Nolan Ryan strikes out his 3,500th batter


MLB Pitching LegendNolan Ryan

• 1983 NY Islanders tie NHL record with 3 shorthanded playoff goals vs NY Rangers
• 1984 Braves pitcher Pascual Perez suspended due to cocaine usage

Sports History
1987 Julius Erving becomes 3rd NBA (and ABA) player to score 30,000 points


NBA LegendJulius Erving

• 1988 Ethiopian Belayneh Densimo runs world record marathon (2:06:50)

Boston Marathon
1989 93rd Boston Marathon: Abebe Mekonen of Ethiopia takes men's race in 2:09:06; Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway wins her 2nd women's title in 2:24:33


Long Distance RunnerIngrid Kristiansen
Senior PGA Championship
1994 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Lee Trevino beats Jim Colbert by 1 stroke for his second title in the event


GolferLee Trevino
Boston Marathon
1995 99th Boston Marathon: Cosmas Ndeti of Kenya claims 3rd straight title in 2:09:22; Uta Pippig of Germany wins 2nd consecutive women's event in 2:25:11


Long Distance RunnerUta Pippig
Sports History
1997 NJ Devil Martin Brodeur is 2nd NHL goalie to score in a playoff game


NHL GoalieMartin Brodeur

• 1999 NFL Draft: University of Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch first pick by Cleveland Browns
• 2000 104th Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Elijah Lagat wins men's race in 2:09:47; Catherine Ndereba takes women's title in 2:26:11

Boston Marathon
2006 110th Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot wins 2nd men's title in 2:07:14; Rita Jeptoo takes women's title in 2:23:38


Long-Distance RunnerRobert Kipkoech Cheruiyot

• 2015 James Anderson becomes the highest wicket-taking bowler in England's test cricket history
• 2017 121st Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Geoffrey Kirui takes men's title in 2:09:37; Edna Kiplagat women's champion in 2:21:52
• 2021 San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau ties Gordie Howe's NHL record for most regular season games played at 1,767

 

APRIL 18

• 1809 First run of 2,000 guineas horse race at Newmarket, England
• 1869 1st international cricket match, held in San Francisco, won by California
• 1898 2nd Boston Marathon won by Canadian Ron McDonald in race record 2:42:00

• 1904 8th Boston Marathon won by Michael Spring in 2:38:04.4

Tommy Burns KOs Jewey Smith

1908 Canadian champion Tommy Burns KOs Jewey Smith of England in 5th round at Neuilly Bowling Palace, Paris to retain his world heavyweight boxing title


Boxer and World Heavyweight ChampionTommy Burns

• 1910 14th Boston Marathon won by Canadian Fred Cameron in 2:28:52.4

Speaker's Double Play
1918 Cleveland center fielder Tris Speaker turns an unassisted double play


Baseball PlayerTris Speaker

• 1921 25th Boston Marathon won by Frank Zuna in race record 2:18:57.6
• 1922 Netherlands soccer team defeats Denmark 2-0
• 1923 74,000 (62,281 paid) on hand for opening of Yankee Stadium

31st Boston Marathon
1927 31st Boston Marathon won by Clarence DeMar in 2:40:22.2; his 5th victory in the event


Marathon RunnerClarence DeMar

• 1932 36th Boston Marathon won by German runner Paul de Bruyn in 2:33:36.4
• 1938 42nd Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:35:34.8; his second victory in the event
• 1942 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4-3 series win; Toronto recovers after losing first 3 games
• 1945 1 armed outfielder, St Louis Brown Pete Gray, 1st game he goes 1 for 4

Robinson 2nd Baseman
1946 Jackie Robinson debuts as 2nd baseman for the Montreal Royals


Baseball PlayerJackie Robinson

• 1949 53rd Boston Marathon won by Gösta Leandersson of Sweden in 2:31:50.8
• 1950 Sam Jethroe is 1st African American to play for Boston Braves
• 1950 Yankees win 15-10 after trailing Red Sox 9-0 in 6th
• 1955 59th Boston Marathon won by Hideo Hamamura of Japan in 2:18:22
• 1958 NL single-game record crowd of 78,682 as the Los Angeles Dodgers win their first ever home game over San Francisco Giants, 6-5, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
• 1959 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens' 4th straight title; beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-3 for a 4-1 series win
• 1960 64th Boston Marathon won by Paavo Kotila of Finland in 2:20:54
• 1962 16th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics beat LA Lakers, 4 games to 3
• 1963 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs go back-to-back with a 3-1 Game 5 win over Detroit Red Wings for a 4-1 series victory

Baseball Record
1964 LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax strikes out the side on 9 pitches, for major league best third time in his career


Baseball PitcherSandy Koufax

• 1966 70th Boston Marathon: Kenji Kimihara of Japan wins in 2:17:11; American Bobbi Gibb first woman in 3:21:40 (unsanctioned)

NBA Record
1966 Bill Russell becomes first African American coach in NBA history (Boston Celtics)


Basketball PlayerBill Russell

• 1968 1st ABA basketball championship began
• 1970 France beats England, 35-13 at Stade Colombes, Paris to earn a share of the Five Nations Rugby Championship with Wales
• 1977 81st Boston Marathon: Canadian Jerome Drayton wins men's race in 2:14:46; American Miki Gorman takes her 2nd women's event in 2:48:33
• 1981 Longest game in Professional Baseball: Pawtucket Red Sox tie Rochester Red Wings 2-2 in 32 innings (game resumed 23rd June)
• 1982 Atlanta Braves win record 11th straight opening game (beat Astros)
• 1983 87th Boston Marathon: American double; Greg Meyer men's champion in 2:09:00; Joan Benoit takes women's race in 2:22:43; her 2nd event title
• 1984 Joan Benoit runs world record female marathon (2:22:43)
• 1987 Gregory Robertson does 200-mph free fall to save unconscious skydiver near Coolidge, Arizona

Baseball Record
1987 Mike Schmidt hits 500th home run (vs Robinson-Pirates)


MLB Third BasemanMike Schmidt
Boston Marathon
1988 92nd Boston Marathon: Ibrahim Hussein of Kenya wins men's race in 2:08:43; Rosa Mota of Portugal repeats as women's champion in 2:24:30


Marathon RunnerRosa Mota

• 1990 Birmingham Fire issued an original franchise in WLAF

NBA Record
1991 John Stockton breaks his own NBA season assist record at 1,136


NBA Point GuardJohn Stockton

• 1992 Start of South Africa's 1st Test Cricket since 1970 (v WI Bridgetown)

Senior PGA Championship
1993 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: American Tom Wargo pars second playoff hole to beat Bruce Crampton of Australia and take his first and only major title


GolferBruce Crampton
Boston Marathon
1994 98th Boston Marathon: Cosmas Ndeti of Kenya wins 2nd straight title in 2:07:15; Uta Pippig of Germany claims women's race in 2:21:45


Long Distance RunnerUta Pippig
Cricket Record
1994 Cricketer Brian Lara hits 375 runs on 1 day for WI vs England to beat Garfield Sobers' world record


CricketerBrian Lara

CricketerGarfield Sobers
Sports History
1995 Quarterback Joe Montana announces his retirement from football


NFL QuarterbackJoe Montana
Sports History
1998 NFL Draft: Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning first pick by Indianapolis Colts


NFL QuarterbackPeyton Manning

• 1999 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Allen Doyle wins first of 4 Senior PGA major titles with a 2 stroke margin over runner-up Vicente Fernández of Argentina

Sports History
1999 Wayne Gretzky plays his last game in the NHL, as his New York Rangers lose 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins


Ice Hockey GreatWayne Gretzky
Sports History
2004 Jason Koumas scores a last minute goal in a 1-0 win against Sunderland


FootballerJason Koumas

• 2005 109th Boston Marathon: Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia claims men's section in 2:11:44; Catherine Ndereba of Kenya wins back-to-back races and 4th overall women's title in 2:25:12
• 2008 NBA owners give approval of a potential Seattle SuperSonics' relocation to Oklahoma City in a 28–2 vote by the Board of Governors
• 2011 115th Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Geoffrey Mutai wins men's race in record 2:03:02; Caroline Kilel takes women's section in 2:22:36

Sports History
2014 Marco van Basten is announced to replace Dick Advocaat as the manager of AZ Alkmaar at the start of the 2014-15 season


Soccer StarMarco van Basten

• 2016 120th Boston Marathon: Ethiopian double; Lemi Berhanu Hayle wins men's section in 2:12:45; Atsede Baysa takes women's event in 2:29:19

Sports History
2016 Kawhi Leonard wins the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year


Basketball ForwardKawhi Leonard
Laureus Awards
2016 Laureus World Sports Awards, Palais am Funkturm, Berlin, Germany: Sportsman: Novak Đoković; Sportswoman: Sernea Williams; Team: New Zealand Men's National Rugby Union team


Tennis ChampionNovak Đoković
Sports History
2017 Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League with a hat-trick in Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Bayern Munich


Football StarCristiano Ronaldo

Football StarThomas Müller

• 2021 12-team European Super League is announced to widespread condemnation amongst governments, non-involved clubs, press and fans; amidst the furore all 6 EPL clubs withdraw within 3 days

 

APRIL 19

• 1897 1st Boston Marathon (B.A.A. Road Race), won by John J. McDermott in 2:55:10; the world's oldest annual marathon inspired by success of the first marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics
• 1900 Highest scoring opening game, Phils beat Braves 19-17 in 10
• 1909 13th Boston Marathon won by Henri Renaud in 2:53:36.8

• 1915 19th Boston Marathon won by Canadian Édouard Fabre in 2:31:41.2
• 1920 24th Boston Marathon won by Peter Trivoulidas of Greece in 2:29:31
• 1926 30th Boston Marathon won by Canadian Johnny Miles in 2:25:40.4
• 1928 New York Yankees are out of 1st place for 1st time since May 1926
• 1937 41st Boston Marathon won by Walter Young of Canada in 2:33:20
• 1938 Baker Bowl, Philadelphia: Phillies infielder Emmett "Heine" Mueller & Brooklyn Dodger outfielder Ernie Koy both homer in their 1st MLB at bats
• 1943 47th Boston Marathon won by Gerard Cote of Canada in 2:28:25.8; his 2nd of 4 wins in the event
• 1944 1944 NFL Draft: Angelo Bertelli from University of Notre Dame first pick by Boston Yanks
• 1946 Yankees switch from 3rd base to 1st base dug out

Maurice Richard Named MVP

1947 After scoring 45 goals during the regular season, Montreal Canadiens' Maurice Richard is named MVP


Ice Hockey PlayerMaurice Richard

• 1947 England beats France, 6-3 at Twickenham to be level on points with Wales for a share of the Five Nations Rugby Championship; first appearance of France in tournament since 1931
• 1947 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario: Toronto Maple Leafs edge Montreal Canadiens, 2-1 for a 4-2 series win; first all-Canadian final since 1935
• 1947 Suh Yun Buck wins world record marathon (2:25:39)
• 1948 52nd Boston Marathon won by Gerard Cote of Canada in 2:31:02; his 4th victory in the event

Plaque for Ruth
1949 Yankees dedicate a plaque for Babe Ruth


Baseball LegendBabe Ruth

• 1954 58th Boston Marathon won by Veikko Karvonen of Finland in 2:20:39

Demar's Last Race
1954 7-time winner of Boston Marathon, 65-year-old Clarence Demar, runs his last race at Boston finishing 78th


Marathon RunnerClarence DeMar

• 1956 1st MLB baseball game in New Jersey - Brooklyn Dodgers beat Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City
• 1960 Baseball uniforms begin displaying players' names on their backs
• 1965 69th Boston Marathon won by Morio Shigematsu of Japan in race record 2:16:33
• 1971 75th Boston Marathon: Álvaro Mejía of Colombia wins in 2:18:45; American Sara Mae Berman 1st woman for 3rd straight year in 3:08:30 (unsanctioned)

Cricket History
1971 After smashing 124 in the 1st innings, Indian cricket opener Sunil Gavaskar makes 220 in 2nd innings in the drawn 5th Test against the West Indies in Port of Spain, Trinidad


CricketerSunil Gavaskar

• 1974 Oriole Al Bumbry hits an inside-the-park HR against NY Yankees
• 1976 80th Boston Marathon: US double; Jack Fultz is men's winner in 2:20:19; Kim Merritt takes women's section in 2:47:10
• 1981 Oakland A's runs record to 11-0

Boston Marathon
1982 86th Boston Marathon: American Alberto Salazar claims men's title in 2:08:51; Charlotte Teske of West Germany wins women's section in 2:29:33


Track Coach and Long Distance RunnerAlberto Salazar

• 1982 Former Cuban marathon cheat Rosie Ruiz is arrested for embezzling $60,000

Boxing Title Fight
1986 Michael Spinks beats Larry Holmes in 15 for heavyweight boxing title


BoxerLarry Holmes

• 1987 Brendon Kuruppu scores 201* on Test Cricket debut (Sri Lanka v NZ)
• 1987 Brewers score 5 runs in 9th to win 6-4 & record 12th straight AL win
• 1987 LA Clippers end season with a terrible 12-70 record
• 1989 Kevin Elster (NY Mets), sets error-less shortstop mark at 73
• 1990 Pistons & 76'ers get into a fight accruing $162,500 fines (NBA record)

Boxing Title Fight
1991 Evander Holyfield beats George Foreman in 12 for heavyweight boxing title


BoxerEvander Holyfield
Senior PGA Championship
1992 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Lee Trevino beats Mike Hill by 1 stroke for his 3rd seniors major title


GolferLee Trevino

• 1993 97th Boston Marathon: Cosmas N'deti of Kenya wins men's event in 2:09:33; Olga Markova of Russia repeats as women's champion in 2:25:27
• 1994 Graeme Obree bicycles world record 10km (11:25.88)
• 1996 Rangers scores 16 in 8th vs Orioles
• 1997 NFL Draft: Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace first pick by St. Louis Rams
• 1997 San Diego Padres & St Louis Cards play at Aloha Stadium Hawaii

Senior PGA Championship
1998 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Hale Irwin makes it 3 straight titles in the event with a convincing 7 stroke margin over runner-up Larry Nelson


Golfer and Three-Time Major Championship WinnerLarry Nelson

GolferHale Irwin

• 1999 103rd Boston Marathon: Joseph Chebet of Kenya takes men's title in 2:09:52; 3-peat for Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia in women's race in 2:23:25
• 2004 108th Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Timothy Cherigat takes men's title in 2:10:37; Catherine Ndereba wins her 3rd women's event in 2:24:27
• 2010 114th Boston Marathon: Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot of Kenya wins 4th men's title in 2:05:52; Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia women's champion in 2:26:11
• 2021 In Las Vegas, Nevada: San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau breaks Gordie Howe's NHL record for most games played, now at 1,768 and counting

 

APRIL 20

• 1903 7th Boston Marathon won by Irishman John Lorden in 2:41:29.8
• 1908 12th Boston Marathon won by Tom Morrissey in 2:25:43.2
• 1908 Opening day of competition in the New South Wales Rugby League

• 1910 Cleveland Naps Addie Joss 2nd no-hitter, beats Chicago, 1-0
• 1912 Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts officially opens, Red Sox beat visitibg New York Highlanders 7-6 in 11 innings
• 1912 Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan opens, Tigers beat visiting Cleveland Indians 6-5
• 1914 18th Boston Marathon won by Canadian James Duffy in 2:25:01.2
• 1916 Chicago Cubs play their 1st game at Weeghman Park (now Wrigley Field) and beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6
• 1920 Phillies manager Gravvy Cravath puts himself in as pinch hitter, his 3- run homer beats NY Giants 3-0
• 1925 29th Boston Marathon won by Charles Mellor in 2:33:00.6
• 1931 35th Boston Marathon won by Jim Henigan in 2:46:45.8
• 1931 British House of Commons agrees for sports play on Sunday
• 1936 40th Boston Marathon won by Ellison Brown in 2:33:40.8

William's 1st MLB Hit

1939 Ted Williams' first MLB hit comes off of NY Yankees fellow future HOF'er Red Ruffing in Boston's 2-0 opening day defeat at Yankee Stadium, NYC


Baseball PlayerTed Williams

Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherRed Ruffing

• 1941 Dodgers start to wear liners in their caps
• 1942 46th Boston Marathon won by Joe Smith in 2:26:51.2

Stengel Hit by Taxi
1943 Braves manager Casey Stengel is struck by a taxi, fractures a leg


Baseball Hall of Fame ManagerCasey Stengel

• 1944 NFL legalizes coaching from bench
• 1945 Cleveland Browns organization formed by Arthur "Mickey" McBride
• 1946 First baseball broadcast in Chicago, Cardinals vs. Cubs

Shoemaker's First Win
1949 Jockey Bill Shoemaker wins his 1st race, in Albany, California


Racing Hall of Fame JockeyBill Shoemaker

• 1950 Baltimore, Maryland's Memorial Stadium opens - Orioles of International League
• 1953 57th Boston Marathon won by Keizo Yamada of Japan in 2:18:51
• 1958 Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Montreal Canadiens' 3-peat; beat Boston Bruins, 5-3 for a 4-2 for series win
• 1959 63rd Boston Marathon won by Eino Oksanen of Finland in 2:22:42
• 1964 68th Boston Marathon won for second straight year by Aurele Vandendriessche of Belgium in 2:19:59

Baseball History
1967 NY Met pitcher Tom Seaver wins his 1st game, helps beat Cubs, 6-1


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherTom Seaver

• 1970 74th Boston Marathon: Englishman Ron Hill wins in 2:10:30 (US record): American Sara Mae Berman 1st woman for 2nd straight year in 3:05:07 (unsanctioned)
• 1972 Kallicharran scores his 2nd Test century in his 2nd Test Cricket
• 1981 85th Boston Marathon: Toshihiko Seko of Japan wins men's race in 2:09:26; Allison Roe of New Zealand takes women's title in 2:26:46
• 1982 Atlanta Braves become 1st team to win 1st 12 games of the season
• 1985 Carlos Lopes runs world record marathon (2:07:12)

NBA Record
1986 Michael Jordan sets NBA playoff record with 63 points in a game


Basketball SuperstarMichael Jordan
Boston Marathon
1987 91st Boston Marathon: Toshihiko Seko of Japan wins 2nd title in 2:11:50; Rosa Mota of Portugal claims women's event in 2:25:21; her first of 3 race victories


Marathon RunnerRosa Mota

• 1988 Baltimore Orioles set worst record to start a season 0-14 (will go 0-21)
• 1988 NJ Devils 1st playoff hat trick-Eric Broten
• 1988 Yanks HR 9,999 (D Winfield) 10,000 (C Washington) 10,001 (J Clarke)
• 1990 8 2/3 inning perfect game pitched by Brian Holman of Oakland A's is spoiled by a home run hit by Ken Philips

Sports History
1990 Former MLB baseball player and manager Pete Rose pleads guilty to hiding $300,000 in income


MLB Player and ManagerPete Rose

• 1991 Mark Lenzi is 1st diver to score 100 pts on a dive (101.85)
• 1992 96th Boston Marathon: Ibrahim Hussein of Kenya repeats in 2:08:14 for his 3rd title; Olga Markova first Russian women's champion in 2:23:43
• 1994 Pakistani cricket batsmen Sohail & Inzamam make world record ODI partnership of 263 against NZ in Sharjah
• 1996 1996 NFL Draft: Keyshawn Johnson from USC first pick by New York Jets
• 1996 Chicago Bulls win record 72 games in a season
• 1997 Cubs beat NY Mets, ending the NL's worst opening losing streak of 14 straight games
• 1997 First baseball game in Hawaii, Cardinals beat Padres in doubleheader

Sports History
1997 Mark McGwire is 4th to HR on Detroit Tiger left field roof (others are Frank Howard, Harmon Killibrew, & Cecil Fielder)


MLB First BasemanMark McGwire

Baseball PlayerCecil Fielder
Senior PGA Championship
1997 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Defending champion Hale Irwin wins his second of 3 straight Senior PGA C’ships beating runners-up Dale Douglass and Jack Nicklaus by 12 strokes


GolferJack Nicklaus

GolferHale Irwin

• 1998 102nd Boston Marathon: Moses Tanui of Kenya wins men's title in 2:07:34; Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia wins back-to-back women's events in 2:23:21
• 2002 NFL Draft: Fresno State quarterback David Carr #1 pick by Houston Texans
• 2008 Danica Patrick driving for Andretti Green Racing wins the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi; first female driver in history to win an IndyCar Series race
• 2009 113th Boston Marathon: Deriba Merga of Ethiopia wins men's event in 2:08:42; Salina Kosgei of Kenya women's champion in 2:32:16
• 2013 5 snowboarders are killed by an avalanche in Loveland Pass, Colorado
• 2015 119th Boston Marathon: Lelisa Desisa Benti of Ethiopia wins men's race in 2:09:17; Caroline Rotich of Kenya women's champion in 2:24:55
• 2018 Arsène Wenger announces he will leave London EPL club Arsenal after 22 years as manager
• 2021 All six EPL clubs withdraw from the controversial European Super League just 3 days after it was announced - Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham

 

APRIL 21

• 1898 Phillies' pitcher Bill Duggleby hits a grand slam on 1st at bat
• 1902 6th Boston Marathon won by Sam Mellor in 2:43:12

Cobb's Debut

1904 Ty Cobb makes his pro debut for Augusta (South Atlantic League)


MLB LegendTy Cobb

• 1910 Cleveland Naps play 1st game at League Park, lose to Detroit Tigers 5-0
• 1913 17th Boston Marathon won by Fritz Carlson in 2:25:14.8
• 1919 23rd Boston Marathon won by Carl Linder in 2:29:13.4

28th Boston Marathon
1924 28th Boston Marathon won by Clarence DeMar for the third consecutive year in 2:29:40.2; 4th race victory


Marathon RunnerClarence DeMar
Sports History
1925 No baseball games played in NL due to Charles Ebbets' funeral


Sports ExecutiveCharles Ebbets

• 1930 34th Boston Marathon won by Clarence DeMar in 2:34:48.2; his 7th victory in the event
• 1934 Senators catcher Moe Berg, plays AL record 117th consecutive errorless game
• 1944 NFL Chic Cardinals & Pittsburgh Steelers merge (dissolves on Dec 3)
• 1947 51st Boston Marathon won by Yun Bok Soh of Korea in 2:25:39; world best time
• 1948 Basketball Association of America Finals: Baltimore Bullets beat Philadelphia Warriors, 88-73 to take series, 4 games to 2
• 1951 NBA Championship: Rochester Royals beat New York Knicks, 79-75 to take series 4 games to 3; first Finals appearance for both teams
• 1951 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Montreal Canadiens, 3-2 for a 4-1 series victory
• 1952 56th Boston Marathon won by Doroteo Flores of Guatemala in 2:31:53
• 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers win, then record 10th straight game to begin a season
• 1958 62nd Boston Marathon won by Franjo Mihalić of Yugoslavia in 2:25:54
• 1964 Pirates & Cubs combine for 9 HRs, Pirates win 8-5
• 1967 Dodgers 1st rain out in Los Angeles (after 737 consecutive games)
• 1969 73rd Boston Marathon: Yoshiaki Unetani of Japan wins in 2:13:49; American Sara Mae Berman 1st woman in 3:22:46 (unsanctioned)
• 1970 Reds clout 7 HRs by 6 batters, Braves counter with 3 HRs, 6 for one team & 9 different batters for two teams, all tie or set records

Boston Marathon
1975 79th Boston Marathon: American Bill Rodgers wins men's section in race record 2:09:55; Liane Winter of West Germany women's champion in 2:42:24 (female world record)


Marathon RunnerBill Rodgers
Sports History
1977 Billy Martin pulls Yankee line-up out of a hat, beats Blue Jays 8-6


Baseball Player and ManagerBilly Martin

• 1980 84th Boston Marathon: Bill Rodgers wins 3rd straight event and 4th overall title in 2:12:11; Jacqueline Gareau of Canada women's winner in 2:34:28; Rosie Ruiz disqualified for not running the entire course
• 1982 Atlanta Braves win their 13th straight game

Sports History
1985 Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway wins London Marathon in race record 2:21:06


Long Distance RunnerIngrid Kristiansen

• 1986 90th Boston Marathon: Rob de Castella first Australian winner in 2:07:51; Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway claims women's title in 2:24:55
• 1986 Bob Hering sets Formula One power boat record (165.338 mph, Ariz)
• 1987 Brewers lose, ending AL season-opening winning streak at 13 games
• 1987 Milwaukee Brewers lose after 13th straight victory to start season

Cricket History
1987 Richard Hadlee makes highest Test Cricket score of 151* (v Sri Lanka)


CricketerRichard Hadlee

• 1988 1st four-day games in County Cricket Championship commence

Sports History
1989 George W. Bush and Edward W. Rose become joint CEOs of the Texas Rangers


43rd US PresidentGeorge W. Bush

• 1990 MLB Cincinnati Reds win, running their record to 9-0, best start in club history
• 1990 National League umpire is arrested for stealing baseball cards
• 1991 Jakov Tolstikov wins 4th World Cup marathon (2:09:17)
• 1991 NFL Draft: University of Miami defensive tackle Russell Maryland first pick by Dallas Cowboys

Sports History
1991 Rosa Mota wins 4th World Cup female marathon (2:26:14)


Marathon RunnerRosa Mota
Senior PGA Championship
1991 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Jack Nicklaus wins his 4th of 8 Champions Tour majors by 6 strokes from Bruce Crampton of Australia


GolferJack Nicklaus

GolferBruce Crampton
Baseball Record
1994 Eddie Murray sets record for switch hit HRs in a games (11 times)


MLB 1st BasemanEddie Murray

• 1995 Boston Celtics final regular season game at Boston Garden, NY Knicks win 98-92
• 1996 Chicago Bulls win NBA record 72 games (72-8)

Senior PGA Championship
1996 Senior PGA Championship, PGA National GC: Hale Irwin beats Japan’s Isao Aoki by 2 strokes for his first of 4 Senior PGA Championships


GolferHale Irwin

• 1997 101st Boston Marathon: Lameck Aguta of Kenya wins men's event in 2:10:34; Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia women's champion in 2:26:23
• 2001 NFL Draft: Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick first pick by Atlanta Falcons

Boston Marathon
2003 107th Boston Marathon: Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya men's champion in 2:10:11; Svetlana Zakharova of Russia women's winner in 2:25:19


Long-Distance RunnerRobert Kipkoech Cheruiyot

• 2008 112th Boston Marathon: 3rd straight men's title for Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya in 2:07:45; Dire Tune of Ethiopia women's winner in 2:25:25
• 2012 Chicago White Sox pitcher, Philip Humber, pitches the 21st MLB perfect game against the Seattle Mariners
• 2013 Tsegaye Kebede and Priscah Jeptoo win the 2013 London Marathon
• 2014 118th Boston Marathon: American Meb Keflezighi men's champion in 2:08:37; Rita Jeptoo of Kenya wins her 2nd women's title in 2:18:57
• 2018 Oakland A's left hander Sean Manaea no-hits the Boston Red Sox
• 2024 Chevron Championship Women's Golf, The Club at Carlton Woods: In beating Maja Stark by 2 strokes, Nelly Korda wins her second major title and equals LPGA record with 5 consecutive wins

 

APRIL 22

• 1876 First official National League baseball game is played; Boston Red Caps beat Philadelphia Athletics, 6-5 at the Jefferson Street Grounds, Philadelphia
• 1876 Philadelphia native Tim McGinley of the Boston Red Caps scores baseball National League's 1st run, in Philadelphia
• 1884 Thomas Stevens leaves San Francisco on the first bicycle trip around the world, takes him 2 years and 9 months

• 1898 Baltimore James Hughes no-hits Boston Braves 8-0
• 1898 Cincinnati Red Theodore Breitenstein no-hits Pirates 11-0
• 1903 NY Highlanders (Yankees) play their first MLB game, losing 3-1 before 11,950 spectators against the Washington Senators at American League Park
• 1906 Intercalated Games opens in Athens
• 1906 New rule puts umpire in sole charge of all game balls
• 1908 Queensland beat NSW by 171 runs for their 1st cricket win at Gabba

Ruth's 1st Professional Game

1914 Babe Ruth's 1st professional game (as a pitcher) is a 6-hit 6-0 win


Baseball LegendBabe Ruth

• 1915 NY Yankees don pinstripes & hat-in-the-ring logo for 1st time
• 1945 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings, 2-1 for a 4-3 series win; Leafs lead series 3-0, but Wings recover to 3-3 to force a decider
• 1947 1st Basketball Association of America Finals: Philadelphia Warriors beat Chicago Stags, 83-80 to take inaugural series, 4 games to 2
• 1954 NBA adopts 24-second shot clock and six-team foul rule
• 1955 KC Athletic's 1st game, beat Tigers 6-2
• 1957 All NL baseball teams integrate, John Irwin Kennedy becomes the 1st Black player for the Philadelphia Phillies
• 1959 Chicago White Sox beat KC Athletics 20-6, in 1 inning Sox score 11 runs on 1 hit, 10 walks, & 3 errors

Baseball Record
1959 Yankee Whitey Ford strikes out 15, beating Senators, 1-0 in 14 innings


MLB PitcherWhitey Ford

• 1962 NY Mets tiea NL record by losing 9 straight to start season
• 1962 Stanley Cup Final, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IL: Dick Duff scores the winner as Toronto Maple Leafs beat Chicago Blackhawks, 2-1 for a 4-2 series victory
• 1966 Atlanta Braves win their 1st game, beating NY Mets 8-4

Joe Frazier KOs Dave Zyglewick
1969 American Joe Frazier KOs American Dave Zyglewick in 1st round to retain heavyweight boxing title, in Houston, Texas


Heavyweight Boxing ChampionJoe Frazier
1st Single-Handed Circumnavigation
1969 Robin Knox-Johnston ends 312 days of non-stop sailing to become the 1st person to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe


SailorRobin Knox-Johnston

• 1970 NY Met Jerry Grote sets record of 20 put outs by a catcher

Baseball Record
1970 NY Met Tom Seaver strikes out last 10 Padres, for a total of 19


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherTom Seaver

• 1970 Senators beat Yankees 2-1 in 18 innings

Baseball History
1981 MLB Los Angeles Dodgers rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela tosses his 3rd shutout in 4 starts


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherFernando Valenzuela

• 1982 Atlanta Braves lose after winning 1st 13 games of season
• 1983 Start of 1st Sri Lanka-Australia Test Cricket match (at Kandy)
• 1988 NJ Devil Patrik Sundstrom sets NHL playoff record of 8 pts in a playoff game (hat trick & 5 assists) in 10-4 rout over the Capitals
• 1988 Women are allowed to compete in Little 500 bicycle race (Indiana)
• 1990 NFL Draft: University of Illinois quarterback Jeff George first pick by Indianapolis Colts
• 1991 Frank Thomas is 1st White Sox to homer at new Comiskey Park
• 1993 Seattle Mariner Chris Basio no-hits Boston Red Sox

Figure Skating History
1994 American figure skater Tonya Harding sues ex-husband Jeff Gillooly for $42,500


Figure SkaterTonya Harding
Moorer vs Holyfield
1994 Michael Moorer beats Evander Holyfield in 12 for heavyweight boxing title


World Boxing ChampionMichael Moorer

BoxerEvander Holyfield
Foreman vs Schulz
1995 George Foreman beats Axel Schulz in 12 for heavyweight boxing title in Las Vegas, Nevada


Boxing ChampionGeorge Foreman

• 1995 NFL Draft: Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter first pick by Cincinnati Bengals

NHL History
2003 Patrick Roy plays his final career NHL game


NHL Goalie and CoachPatrick Roy

• 2010 NFL Draft: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford first pick by St. Louis Rams
• 2012 30-year-old woman collapses and dies during London Marathon
• 2013 Manchester United defeat Aston Villa to claim the 2012/2013 English Premier League
• 2014 David Moyes is sacked as manager of Manchester United

Federation Cup
2017 Ilie Năstase thrown off tennis court for insulting British female players during Fed Cup play-off against Romania in Constanta


Tennis ChampionIlie Năstase
Footballer of the Year
2018 Liverpool's Egyptian soccer forward Mohamed Salah is named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year


Soccer StarMohamed Salah
Tennis Open Record
2018 Monte Carlo Tennis Masters: Rafael Nadal beats Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 to extend his Open-era record for most wins at the same event (11)


Tennis ChampionRafael Nadal
Editor Sacked for AI Interview
2023 Editor of German magazine "Die Aktuelle" sacked after running a so-called interview generated by AI with FI racing driver Michael Schumacher [1]


Formula 1 DriverMichael Schumacher

 

APRIL 23

• 1869 1st professional baseball exhibition game - Cincinnati Red Stockings 24, Cincinnati amateurs 15
• 1903 NY Highlanders (Yankees) win their first game; beat Washington Senators, 7-2 at American League Park
• 1914 MLB Chicago Federals host the Kansas City Packers in the 1st game played at Weeghman Park (now Wrigley Field)

• 1919 US Major League Baseball opens a reduced 140-game season
• 1921 Charley Paddock runs a world record 100m in 10.4 seconds
• 1933 Dovo soccer team forms in Veenendaal

Hubbell Continues Streak

1937 New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell's first start of season, a 3-0 win over the Boston Bees, is his 17th straight win; streak continues for league record 24 victories in a row


Baseball PitcherCarl Hubbell
Williams 1st Home Run
1939 Boston Red Sox Ted Williams hits his 1st HR


Baseball PlayerTed Williams

• 1940 NY Yankees dedicate a plaque to Jacob Rupert
• 1946 Brooklyn Dodger Ed Head no-hits Boston Braves, 5-0
• 1950 1st major league day game completed under lights (Phils 6, Braves 5)
• 1950 NBA Championship: Minneapolis Lakers beat Syracuse Nationals, 110-95 to take series, 4 games to 2
• 1950 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Pete Babando scores Cup-winning goal in double overtime of Game 7 as Detroit Red Wings beat NY Rangers, 4-3 for a 4-3 series win

Sports History
1952 Bob Cain of St. Louis Browns and Bob Feller of Cleveland Indians each pitch a one-hitter, as the home team wins 1-0 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, Missouri


Baseball Hall of Fame PitcherBob Feller
Sports History
1952 New York Giant Hoyt Wilhelm wins his 1st game in relief & hits his only HR


Baseball Player and Knuckleball PitcherHoyt Wilhelm
Baseball Record
1954 Hammerin' Hank Aaron hits 1st of his 755 homers


Baseball PlayerHank Aaron


Sports History
1958 Gil Hodges hits his 300th HR & Pee Wee Reese plays in 2,000th game


MLB First BasemanGil Hodges

• 1962 NY Mets win their 1st game ever, after going 0-9, beat Pirates 9-1
• 1964 Houston Colt 45s Ken Johnson becomes 1st major league pitcher to lose a 9 inning no-hitter, Reds win 1-0

NBA Finals
1969 LA Lakers guard Jerry West scores 53 points in 120-118 NBA Finals Game 1 win over Boston Celtics at the LA Forum


NBA GuardJerry West

• 1977 ADO Den Haag soccer team forms in The Hague, Netherlands
• 1977 Czech chess master Vlastimil Hort plays 201 games simultaneously & only loses 10

Sports History
1978 MLB Cincinnati Reds second baseman Joe Morgan ends record streak of 91 consecutive errorless games


MLB Hall of Fame Infielder and BroadcasterJoe Morgan

• 1983 David Hookes scores his only Test Cricket century, 143* v Sri Lanka
• 1985 Brooklyn College soccer team wins Nepal's invitational
• 1987 NJ Devils farm team Maine Mariners (AHL) move to Utica (Devils) NY
• 1988 Greek Olympic cyclist Kanellos Kanellopoulos pedals the MIT Daedalus 88 self-powered aircraft a record 71.5 miles (115 km) from Heraklion on the island of Crete to Santorini

Sports History
1989 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores 10 points in his last game as a Laker in a 121-117 win over Seattle SuperSonics at the LA Forum


NBA LegendKareem Abdul-Jabbar

• 1989 NFL Draft: #1 pick UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman by Dallas Cowboys

Sports History
1989 Nolan Ryan blows a no hitter in 9th inning


MLB Pitching LegendNolan Ryan
Sports History
1991 Björn Borg loses 6-2, 6-3 to Jordi Arrese after an 8 year lay off without practising or playing any exhibition matches


Tennis PlayerBjörn Borg

• 1991 Outstanding West Indian cricket opening batsman Gordon Greenidge scores 226 in his final Test innings at home in Bridgetown, Barbados; WI win 4th Test v Australia by 343 runs
• 2005 NFL Draft: University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith first pick by San Francisco 49ers
• 2012 38,000 London Marathon entrants have their home and email contacts published in a data protection breach

Cricket History
2013 West Indian cricketer, Chris Gayle, smashes the fastest century in history in just 30 balls


CricketerChris Gayle
Sports History
2015 Kawhi Leonard is named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the first time


Basketball ForwardKawhi Leonard
Sports History
2017 Adam Ondra sets a new highpoint for the Project indoor sport route in Stockholm, Sweden


Rock ClimberAdam Ondra

• 2019 Southampton striker Shane Long scores fastest goal in English Premier League history when he nets after 7.69 seconds in 1-1 draw at Watford

Sports History
2020 NFL Draft: LSU quarterback Joe Burrow first pick by Cincinnati Bengals


NFL QuarterbackJoe Burrow
Sports History
2023 Brooke Raboutou wins a gold medal in bouldering at the IFSC World Cup in Hachioji, Japan


Rock ClimberBrooke Raboutou

• 2023 Chevron Championship Women's Golf, The Club at Carlton Woods: Lilia Vu wins her first major beating fellow American Angel Yin on the first playoff hole
• 2023 MLB Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida hits a solo home run and a grand slam in the eight inning in 12-5 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee

 

APRIL 24

• 1880 Amateur Athletic Association, the governing body for men's athletics in England and Wales, is founded in Oxford, England

World Record 100km

1894 French cyclist Henri Desgrange rides 100km in a world record time of 2:39:18


Cyclist and Founder of the Tour-de-FranceHenri Desgrange

• 1894 Lave Cross becomes 1st Philadelphia Phillies player to hit for the cycle in 22-5 win over the Bridegrooms at Eastern Park, Brooklyn
• 1901 First game in baseball's American League: Chicago White Stockings win against the Cleveland Blues 8-2, other games rained out

Jack Hobbs Debut
1905 First-class cricket debut of Sir Jack Hobbs, "The Master" for Surrey v the "Gentlemen of England" (18 & 88)


CricketerJack Hobbs

• 1905 Senators execute a triple-play & beat Yankees 4-3
• 1909 Harry Hillman and Lawson Robertson run a 100-yard three-legged race in 11 seconds
• 1917 NY Yankees left-handed pitcher George Mogridge no-hits Boston Red Sox, 2-1 at Fenway Park
• 1945 Albert B "Happy" Chandler is named 2nd baseball commissioner

Baseball Hall of Fame
1946 11 players named to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Tinker, Evers, Chance, Burkett, McCarthy, Waddell, Plank, Walsh, Jack Chesbro, Griffith and McGinnity


Baseball PitcherJack Chesbro

• 1956 AL umpire Frank Umont is 1st to wear glasses in a regular season game
• 1957 Chicago Cub pitchers walk NL record 9 Reds in 5th inning
• 1958 Lee Walls hits 3 HRs, as Cubs beat Dodgers 15-2

Baseball Record
1962 LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax's 2nd career 18-strikeout, in a 10-2 win over Cubs in Chicago


Baseball PitcherSandy Koufax

• 1963 17th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics beat LA Lakers, 4 games to 2

Hall of Fame
1963 Future Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy plays his last NBA game for Boston as Celtics beat LA Lakers, 112-109 in Game 6 for their 5th straight NBA C'ship


NBA Point GuardBob Cousy

• 1966 Atlanta Braves win NL-record 18 straight home games (17 in Milwaukee)
• 1967 21st NBA Championship: Philadelphia 76ers beat SF Warriors, 4 games to 2
• 1974 NFL grants franchise to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baseball Record
1978 Angels Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 Mariners, 20th time he has 15 in game


MLB Pitching LegendNolan Ryan
Shoemaker Wins #8,000
1981 Bill Shoemaker wins his 8,000th horse race, 2,000 more than any other jockey


Racing Hall of Fame JockeyBill Shoemaker

• 1981 San Antonio blocks 20 Golden State shots to set an NBA regular season game record
• 1982 Cards win 12th game in a row; 7-4 over Phillies
• 1988 NFL Draft: Auburn tight end Aundray Bruce first pick by Atlanta Falcons

Sports History
1992 George Steinbrenner drops his suits against baseball


New York Yankees OwnerGeorge Steinbrenner
Sports History
1994 David Robinson scores ties 7th highest total in the NBA - 71


NBA CenterDavid Robinson

• 1994 NFL Draft: Ohio State defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson first pick by Cincinnati Bengals
• 1994 NY Rangers sweep NY Islanders in NHL playoffs

Sports History
1995 Court orders Darryl Strawberry to pay back $350,000 in taxes


Baseball PlayerDarryl Strawberry

• 1996 Highest scoring baseball game in 17 years - Twins 24, Tigers 11

Sports History
2004 NFL Draft: Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning first pick by San Diego Chargers


NFL QuarterbackEli Manning

 

APRIL 25

• 1876 Chicago Cubs 1st NL game, beats Louisville 4-0 (1st NL shutout)
• 1901 Erve Beck hits American League's 1st home run
• 1901 In last of 9th, Detroit Tigers, trailing by 13-4, score 10 runs to win one of greatest comebacks in baseball (1st game in Detroit)

• 1905 Latest day of 1st-class cricket in an Aust season (NSW v Qld)
• 1920 Magda Julin of Sweden beats teammate Svea Norén for the gold medal in women's singles figure skating at the Antwerp Olympics
• 1933 NY Yankee Russ Van Atta shuts out Washington Senators 16-0
• 1933 Philadelphia Phillies' Dick Bartell is 1st MLB player to get 4 consecutive doubles in 9 innings
• 1945 British troops reach the Grebbe Line, a forward defensive line in the Netherlands

Thesz vs Watson

1947 Lou Thesz beats Whipper Watson in St Louis, to win National Wrestling Association world heavyweight title


Professional WrestlerLou Thesz

• 1950 Chuck Cooper becomes the 1st African American to be drafted into the NBA (for Boston Celtics)
• 1952 6th NBA Championship: Minneapolis Lakers beat NY Knicks, 4 games to 3
• 1964 Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: 3-peat for the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 4-0 Game 7 win over Detroit Red Wings for a 4-3 series victory
• 1965 19th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics beat LA Lakers, 4 games to 1
• 1974 NFL moves goal posts & adopts sudden-death playoff
• 1977 Cincinnati Reds tie record of 12 runs in 5th inning beating Braves 23-9
• 1978 Mascot Phillie Phanatic makes its first appearance

Billy Martin Restrained
1980 Oakland Athletics' manager Billy Martin is restrained by umpires from attacking a fan


Baseball Player and ManagerBilly Martin
Maury Wills Suspended
1981 Seattle Mariners manager Maury Wills is suspended for two games after ordering the Kingdome grounds crew to enlarge the batter's boxes by one foot


Baseball Player and ManagerMaury Wills
NHL History
1985 Wayne Gretzky scores 7 points in a Cup game for the second time (3 goals, 4 assists)


Ice Hockey GreatWayne Gretzky

• 1989 Penguin Mario Lemuix ties NHL playoff record of 4 goals in 1st period
• 1991 Boston Herald journalist Lisa Olson brings suit against NFL New England Patriots for sexual harassment while covering team; an out-of-court settlement was reached, the league fines the team, and she transfers to a position in Sydney, Australia
• 1993 NFL Draft: Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe first pick by New England Patriots

Baseball History
1997 Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 250th HR


Baseball Hall of Fame OutfielderKen Griffey Jr.
NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft: Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford first pick by Detroit Lions


NFL QuarterbackMatthew Stafford
Indian Premier League
2010 IPL Cricket Final, DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai: Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians by 22 runs; Suresh Raina 57 no (35)


CricketerSachin Tendulkar

• 2013 NFL Draft: Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher first pick by Kansas City Chiefs
• 2019 NFL Draft: Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray #1 pick by Arizona Cardinals